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CPD

Pioli's 'demands' not an issue, sources say

by Mary Kay Cabot/Plain Dealer Reporter Wednesday January 07, 2009, 9:47 PM


Stephan Savoia/Associated PressScott Pioli's chat with Browns owner Randy Lerner was more "exploratory" than a negotiation, said sources familiar with the meeting on Wednesday.
Reports that Patriots Vice President of Player Personnel Scott Pioli turned the Browns off with his "outrageous demands" were absolutely false, multiple sources close to the situation told The Plain Dealer Wednesday. Browns owner Randy Lerner spent about 10 hours talking to Pioli on and off over the past week and the dialogue was positive, the source said. It was also described as one source as more "exploratory" than actual negotiating.
Lerner really liked and admired Pioli, his first choice for a general manager, sources said. But Lerner identified early on in the hiring process that the head coach was the more important hire between the two. Research had shown that landing the right coach was the bigger indicator of a franchise's success.
So when Mangini was fired by the Jets last week, it altered the landscape of the search, and Mangini became the focal point. It didn't help matters that Mangini and Pioli were on opposite sides of the Spygate controversy, in which the Patriots were disciplined for taping the Jets' defensive signals.
Pioli also interviewed with the Kansas City Chiefs, but hasn't made a decision yet on whether or not to leave New England, a source said.

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