Every Saturday throughout the offseason, one question from Twitter will be selected to further explore a relevant topic around the New England Patriots.
@cpriceNFL @MikeReiss I keep hearing he was instrumental in some of their transactions. Could you write a piece on which specific players?
— ë¼ˆì•„ë¹ (@Big_Jazz_Boy) June 18, 2016
When it comes to players the Patriots signed who had some of Michael Lombardi's fingerprints on them, Bill Belichick previously mentioned running back Dion Lewis and receiver Brian Tyms. Defensive end Jabaal Sheard is another, as all three came from the Cleveland Browns, where Lombardi served as general manager in 2013.
"If you're with a guy, you know a lot more about him than the other teams that don't have that opportunity," Belichick previously said.
Lombardi, who is leaving his position as an assistant to the Patriots coaching staff, often was on the college scouting trail with Belichick, so it's likely there are others he vouched for along the way.
But one of the things that I think is important to mention is how the Patriots rely on a collaboration, and it's Belichick making the final call. Belichick does so after taking in all information, from the likes of director of player personnel Nick Caserio, football research director Ernie Adams, director of college scouting Monti Ossenfort and Lombardi, among others.
