The MMQB’s Albert Breer thinks that the Patriots’ transition from the “old Belichick model to a more ‘modern’ organizational setup won’t happen overnight,” according to Darren Hartwell of NBCSPORTSBOSTON.com. Part of the reason for that is the “unusually small number of employees across multiple departments in New England.” Former coach Bill Belichick kept a “notoriously small staff while handling several responsibilities himself, and it appears that staff wasn’t built out in a meaningful way” under head coach Jerod Mayo last season. Breer noted the most “forward-thinking” organizations in the league are “so far beyond them from a staff standpoint.” He indicated that the Patriots have a “long way to go as far as building that organization out and building the football operation out to catch up.” NBC Sports Boston Patriots Insider Phil Perry pointed out that New England’s football operation “also needs modernizing in other areas.” Perry: “When it comes to some of the technology in terms of how the playbook comes together and how the coaches can teach their players -- there are little things like that where they still have room to grow.” Hartwell noted that one of new coach Mike Vrabel’s most “important tasks” will be to “convince Patriots owner Robert Kraft to make significant investments outside player acquisition” (NBCSPORTSBOSTON.com, 3/5).
Patriots’ shift to modern organizational model will take time
