Caserio will manage the daily operations of the personnel/scouting department - an increased role that includes a significant pay raise - while continuing to work closely with coach Bill Belichick. If the 33-year-old Caserio is in need of a veteran sounding board on a personnel issue, Reese could help.
With his vast NFL experience, which spans coaching, personnel evaluation, and contract negotiations, Reese is willing to adapt to whatever the Patriots want.
"It's different from a lot of situations - this organization doesn't need a lot of fixing," he said. "They are in pretty good shape, so I think my objective is to come in and do whatever I can do to help Mr. [Robert] Kraft and Bill win another world championship."
It appears Reese's background in contract negotiations and salary cap management - areas in which Caserio is not as experienced and Pioli was instrumental - will be most important.
Reese met with chairman/CEO Robert Kraft, president Jonathan Kraft, and Belichick in the interview process, but he did not meet Caserio. That is a strong indication that his role will be more contract- and salary cap-based than personnel-based.
As Titans assistant general manager (1990-93) and general manager (1994-2006), Reese negotiated every contract, from free agents to draft choices.
"That's an area that I'm very experienced in," he said.
Reese and Belichick share a connection that traces to the mid-1970s when both were assistant coaches with the Detroit Lions. They carpooled to work in those days.
Reese spent the first 15 years of his NFL career as a coach, and the next 17 in player personnel. He most recently was working for ESPN as a football analyst.
"Floyd and I go back a long way, practically to the beginning for both of us," Belichick said in a statement. "He has handled as much as one person can possibly handle in this league and to a certain extent, so has Nick. In Nick and Floyd, we have two outstanding men who each bring a wealth of knowledge and flexibility to this organization. I look forward to joining with both of them and working toward the common goal of our team's improvement and success."
