DETROIT — Coach Jim Caldwell was not talking about his future after the 35-11 win over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.
Rumors have been swirling ever since the Lions failed to make it to the playoffs that Caldwell’s time in Detroit might be done.
No official word has been released.
“Nothing at this point has changed, so still working. Just like today, still working,’’ Caldwell said after the game.
He said no meeting has been set with general manager Bob Quinn.
Five things to know about Caldwell’s future:
ONE He refuses to make excuses. Period. “Have you ever heard me defend or anything? Not to anybody, it’s not just to you. It’s not to anybody. I don’t make any excuses. That’s just not the way I live my life,’’ Caldwell said. “So, we go out, we do what we do, let everybody make an assessment from there. What’s real assessment is wins. Wins and losses, that’s the key.”
TWO Caldwell would not name what he is most proud of from his four years with the Lions . “I just think there’s some things that got done. But I’m not done yet, so we’ll see,’’ Caldwell said. When asked to explain that in further detail, he said: “Still working. I’m still working today. I’m still working. If it was something changed, I wouldn’t be standing here, right? Still working.”
THREE The players love him. It’s indisputable. “I think I’m pretty honest with you guys for the most part, I tell you what I believe. I don’t think personally that he’s the problem or ever has been. I’m Team Coach Caldwell until I can’t any more. I still think I know what we can do better, I’m still not going to mention it. But it’s not coach Caldwell in my opinion,’’ wide receiver Golden Tate said. “That’s not my decision. We all have got — upstairs, scouts and GMs and owners — they have a job to do and a job to keep and their job is to put us in the best situation to win games year in and year out. They’re going to make the decision on how they think this team should go forward. We’ll see what happens.’’
FOUR Quarterback Matthew Stafford on Caldwell: “I think everybody in that locker room really likes, loves, coach Caldwell, he’s a great guy, he teaches us a lot about football, he teaches us a lot about life, he cares about us. Love playing for him, he’s done a great job for us. I think everybody goes out there every week playing hard for him no matter what the game is, no matter what the circumstance is.’’
FIVE Ziggy Ansah on Caldwell: “I love Jim Caldwell, no doubt about that. He’s a great coach and he doesn’t only teach us how to be football players, he teaches us how to be responsible men, it’s not all about football. He made us understand that people go through tough times, tougher than this. People are going through tough problems … To be in the playoffs we have to be able to overcome that. Jim is a great guy and I wouldn’t trade him for nobody else.’’
