Patriots

Offense

Pioli will be the top candidate to take over operations in nearly every NFL franchise that needs someone. But he’s expressed no interest in leaving New England and has two years remaining on a binding contract. The Patriots could also be angling for compensation.

The Patriots and Weis have both publicly indicated that he will finish out the season with the Patriots. Patriots coach Bill Belichick reportedly was effusive in his praise to help get Weis the job, so there is no dissension in the ranks. Belichick has dealth with a similar situation before, when Nick Saban accepted the Michigan State job while Belichick coached in Cleveland.

Pioli makes less than $1 million for the Patriots, but has promised to finish his contract which runs through the 2006 draft. There might also me legal/compensation wrangling if Pioli tried to leave before.

It isn’t known whether Pioli has decided to interview. Pioli would be a huge loss in an offseason of defections for the World Champs, but he has repeatedly said he’d stay through 2006.

New England has four picks in the first two rounds, so they have flexibility to move up. They’d likely have to make two trades to get all the way to No. 6. It’s anyone’s guess who they might want to take there (Sean Taylor?)- it’s not necessarily a running back.

The Boston Globe reported Thursday that New England would trade the team’s two first round picks, a second and a fourth to the Lions for the sixth overall pick and Detroit’s fourth rounder. Yesterday, Bill Belichick issued a firm denial: “We definitely would not consider that.” Lions coach Steve Mariucci also denied the report, saying his team would need more.

It’s important to note that Ty Law was not among the players they approached. We expect New England to swallow Law’s $10.2 million cap number and make this his final season with the team. Law will have plenty of incentive to play well with his last signing bonus at stake.

Ferentz is the son of Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz. A Patriots’ assistant since 2009, Ferentz was considered integral in the development of Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. His departure shouldn’t have a noticeable effect on New England’s dynamic tight end duo.

McDaniels’ mid-postseason hiring has caused a stir, but it sounds like the Patriots will do their best to keep him from stepping on O’Brien’s toes. The Boston Globe believes McDaniels’ eventual “title and responsibilities” will likely be “more than just coordinator.” There’s been speculation the Pats are bringing McDaniels back to be their head coach-in-waiting, but the Globe hasn’t heard anything to confirm such talk.

McDaniels is acting as an offensive assistant for the team during its playoff run. Next season, he’ll replace new Penn State coach Bill O’Brien as the coordinator. McDaniels was the Patriots’ offensive coordinator in 2007 when Tom Brady set a league record with 50 touchdown passes and the team went 16-0.