Pats' Pioli again named top NFL executive

KAPALUA, Hawaii, March 23 (UPI) -- New England Patriots Vice President of Player Personnel Scott Pioli was named NFL Executive of the Year Wednesday for the second year in a row.

The announcement was made at the NFL owners meetings in Hawaii.

Pioli received 19 of 50 votes in a poll of owners conducted by The Sporting News.

San Diego Chargers Vice President and General Manager A.J. Smith was second with nine votes and Tom Heckert, director of player personnel for the Philadelphia Eagles, was third with eight votes.

Pioli, 38, joins Bobby Beathard and Bill Polian as the only executives to earn the award in consecutive years.

"This is a humbling honor, a result of a lot of hard work by a lot of people," Pioli said. "I am fortunate to be surrounded by a tremendous support staff. Without them I couldn't do my job."

Pioli has been with the New England team four years.