ATLANTA - Assistant general manager Scott Pioli will take on pro and college scouting and will have new NFL draft responsibilities in the restructuring of the Atlanta Falcons personnel department announced Wednesday. Cheap Minnesota Timberwolves Jerseys .The Falcons say Pioli will report to general manager Thomas Dimitroff, who retains responsibility for salary cap and player affairs, among other duties.The moves came as the team continued its search to replace coach Mike Smith, who was fired following a 6-10 season.The changes appear to weaken the authority of Dimitroff, whose future was left in doubt by owner Arthur Blank at the news conference to announce Smiths firing. Blank said Wednesday the new coach and Dimitroff will report separately to me.After reviewing all of our options — internally and externally — I have no reservations that this is the best approach to setting up our player personnel groups for future success, Blank said in a statement released by the team.It maximizes the talents of Scott, allows for more time and focus on all areas of our football operations groups managed by Thomas, and is in line with other player personnel groups in the league.Pioli, the former director of player personnel for the Patriots, joined the Falcons last year. Dimitroff worked with Pioli in New England as the Patriots director of scouting before he was hired by Atlanta in 2008. Dimitroff recommended Piolis hire last year.Dimitroff said in a statement Wednesday Pioli is a trusted partner who has proven himself, time and again, during his 23-year NFL career.His thumbprint can be found on a number of Pro Bowl players during his NFL career, and he was a key contributor to the remarkable Super Bowl success of the Patriots during his tenure there. We look forward, and I do personally, to the many contributions he will make to our pro, college scouting and NFL draft efforts going forward.Dimitroff and Smith combined to build winning seasons in each of their first five seasons together. There has been increased criticism of Dimitroffs free-agent and draft decisions as the team posted a combined 10-22 record the past two years.At Smiths news conference, Dimitroff said I know that I have made mistakes and Im going to be scrutinized for it.The Falcons interviewed former Jets coach Rex Ryan on Tuesday. Ryan had two interviews with Atlanta before Smiths hire in 2008.The Falcons also have interviewed New England offensive co-ordinator Josh McDaniels, Broncos offensive co-ordinator Adam Gase, Seahawks defensive co-ordinator Dan Quinn and former Bills coach Doug Marrone, according to multiple reports.Arizona coach Bruce Arians said the Falcons and other teams requested permission to interview Cardinals defensive co-ordinator Todd Bowles.Blank said the decision to restructure the personnel department was not tied to the head coach search currently underway.Added Blank: We also believe that independent thinking and collaboration will contribute to taking us to the next level in our league. Therefore, our new head coach and Thomas will report separately to me.Director of player personnel Lionel Vital was given additional pro scouting responsibilities and will play a role in college scouting with director of college scouting Steve Sabo.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Cheap Timberwolves Jerseys . JOHNS, N. Gorgui Dieng Jersey .ca. The NHL Play of the Year showdown kicks off with some slick moves going head-to-head with a combination of soft hands and endless patience. http://www.cheaptimberwolvesjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-anthony-tolliver-jersey . Chris Heisey connected for his first grand slam and Devin Mesoraco homered and drove in a career high-tying four runs as Cincinnati took advantage of Tampa Bays depleted pitching staff for a 12-4 victory on Sunday.BALTIMORE -- Dealing with the powerful Baltimore Orioles lineup was easy for Scott Kazmir compared to keeping his aching back in working order. Kazmir took a no-hitter into the seventh, and by the start of the eighth inning he could pitch no longer. After he left, Cleveland quickly fell behind. Fortunately for the Indians, they scored two ninth-inning runs off Jim Johnson to pull out a 4-3 victory Wednesday night. A leadoff double in the seventh by Manny Machado was the only hit allowed by Kazmir, who gave up one unearned run and one walk in seven innings. He came out to the mound for the eighth but left with back spasms before throwing a pitch. "He was fighting them for probably three innings," Cleveland manager Terry Francona said. It was a tough way for Kazmir to end a night in which he pitched magnificently. "Its something thats just more frustrating and irritating than anything," the left-hander said. "The start of the third inning, it seemed like it started tightening up quite a bit. The later innings it got a lot harder." Kazmir was perfect for four innings and retired 18 of the first 19 Baltimore batters. After Machado singled in the seventh, a wild pickoff attempt by Kazmir preceded a sacrifice fly by Chris Davis. And then, in the eighth, he was gone. Baltimore promptly scored twice against Joe Smith (4-0) to take a 3-2 lead, but the Indians rallied against Johnson (2-6) in the ninth. After Michael Brantley drew a leadoff walk, Jason Giambi hit his 400th career double. An intentional walk loaded the bases for Lonnie Chisenhall, who hit into a run-scoring fielders choice. Drew Stubbs also hit into a fielders choice to bring home pinch-runner Mike Aviles and chase Johnson. "I leave a ball up to Giambi on the next pitch after the four-pitch walk," Johnson said. "Now youve got second and third and you have to walk the next guy. So you have bases loaded and nobody out. It doesnt get much worse. At that point, Im trying to limit the damage, Im trying to worry about each individual pitch. I came real close to keeping it tied. But obviously I dug myself my own hole." Vinnie Pestano worked the ninth for his fifth save. "This was one of those games where it wouldve been just a killer loss and ends up being a ggreat win," Francona said. Derrick Rose Jersey. Jason Kipnis homered for the Indians, who improved to 2-34 when trailing after eight innings. "I was happy the way our offence came out versus Johnson," Kipnis said. "We knew it was his third day in a row; he wasnt going to have his best stuff, hopefully." In the Baltimore eighth, an infield hit by J.J. Hardy, a walk to Chris Dickerson and a single by Alexi Casilla loaded the bases with one out for Nick Markakis, who drove in a run by hitting into a fielders choice. Machado then lined an RBI single off the left-field wall for a 3-2 lead. Johnson, who had given up only one run in his previous 14 appearances, couldnt make the margin stand up. It was his fifth blown save. "Jimmys been solid for us," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "Hes a rock." The start of the game was delayed 66 minutes by rain, and both pitchers seized control from the outset. Jason Hammel retired the first 10 batters he faced and Kazmir was perfect through four innings. Activated from the disabled list before the game, Clevelands Asdrubal Cabrera became the first player to reach base when he was hit by a pitch in the fourth. Kipnis followed with his 11th home run, the second in two nights, for a 2-0 lead. Kazmir officially retired the first 13 batters before issuing a four-pitch walk to Matt Wieters in the fifth, although replays showed a sliding Machado beat out a fourth-inning grounder despite being called out by first base umpire Will Little. The Indians put runners at the corners with two outs in the fifth before Hammel retired Michael Bourn on a grounder. In the Cleveland seventh, Stubbs looked at a third strike with two outs and runners on second and third. NOTES: To make room for Cabrera on the roster, Cleveland designated infielder John McDonald for assignment. ... Orioles pitching prospect Dylan Bundy will undergo elbow ligament-replacement surgery Thursday in Florida. ... Clevelands Corey Kluber will bring a three-game winning streak to the mound Thursday night in the finale of the series. Miguel Gonzalez will pitch for Baltimore. ... Kipnis has reached safely in 28 consecutive games. ... The Indians expect to activate closer Chris Perez (shoulder) from the disabled list on Thursday. 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