New England Patriots to hire Mike Lombardi

Dec 23, 2012; Jacksonville, FL, USA; New England Patriots helmet sits on the field before start of the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports

Just days after being let go from his general manager position with the Cleveland Browns, it appears that Mike Lombardi and the New England Patriots are close to a deal, per Shalise Manza Young of the Boston Globe. Presumably, Lombardi will take a high up front office personnel position with the Patriots.

Lombardi is a close friend of Bill Belichick. The two worked together with the Browns in the early 1990s. While working for NFL Network and NFL.com, Lombardi served as an adviser for the Patriots drafts from 2010 to 2012, before accepting the job as Browns G.M. He has held personnel jobs for numerous teams in the NFL.

The Browns letting go of Lombardi was somewhat shocking, but his being hired by the Patriots isn’t in the least. We all know how it is in New England, Bob Kraft and Belichick surround themselves with experienced and respected football minds, and Lombardi fits that mold.

No coach in the NFL has more responsibility than Belichick. As head coach and general manager, Belichick is praised equally for his personnel decisions and his in-game strategy. The move to add Lombardi doesn’t hurt the Patriots in any way. Bringing in another football mind that he trusts seems like a good step for Belichick, in what will be a crucial offseason for he and the Patriots.