INDIANAPOLIS — Last offseason, a prospective free agent was asked by players around the league for advice on where to consider contracts.A short list of places he received Please do not go: Bill Belichick’s New England and Belichick protégé Josh McDaniel’s Las Vegas.
Those places had established reputations as tough teams to work for, the free agent told NBC Sports Boston. There, he said, the culture of those institutions can take a toll on you.
Now, under new leadership, the Patriots are trying to change that perception.
“Our pitch to free agents is this is a new program,” New England scouting director Elliott Wolf told reporters Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine.
“We’re moving in the right direction. It’s a new era. (Head Coach) Jerod Mayo’s leadership is going to be great. He’s an incredible leader and developer of talent. A new era. As we move forward, I think, “It’s going to be pretty special and exciting here, both offensively and defensively.”
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Owner Robert Kraft has given Wolfe final say on the 53-man roster in case disagreements arise in a supportive front office. Asked to define the culture he and Mayo want to see in Foxboro, Wolf said, “I think it’s about people and developing people. It’s about doing the right thing. Being honest and open. . And people feel safe to say something if they have a problem.”
This is much different than the chain-of-command approach that Belichick has used with great success for the better part of his two decades with the Patriots. And while Wolf’s comments about the type of culture he wants to foster can also be seen as a veiled shot at his former boss, there’s no way One Patriots Place will take place at agents or future free agents. It might be easier to explain it as a flashing neon sign to let you know. It is not home to the kind of militaristic culture that Belichick preferred.
Has the culture already changed? asked Wolf.
“I’d say yes, and I think ultimately the answer will be yes,” Wolf said. “It’s easy to say the culture has changed, we don’t have any players here now. But there’s certainly a vibe in the building that’s more open, less rigid, and allows us to move forward.”
Wolf seems to want to bring a Packers feel to New England in a variety of areas, including the front office and the culture around the facility. Wolfe explained that while the “packer way” has a football definition, it goes beyond a team-building approach.
“For me, the Packer Way is kind of a draft, developing and expanding core performers from within. And it’s about integrity, respect, and treating people the right way.” He said.
Wolf continued, “I still believe that – it’s great to work with Jerrod – this is a people business. It’s about developing people. Culture is about the people in the building. It’s created by the support staff, whether it’s scouts, coaches, or players. I think this is very important if you are trying to build the culture you want. ”
It’s clear after hearing from Indy’s Wolf that building that culture is a priority. How effectively it executes will partly determine whether Wolf and Mayo believe the first year of this new regime is a step in the right direction.
When asked what he considered a successful season, Wolf said, “We just showed good progress,” “and turned the culture around.”