Caldwell Skirts Around Questions About Future, 'Next Ball Game' Is Only Focus
By Ashley Scoby
@AshleyScoby
The clock is ticking on Lions head coach Jim Caldwell – either leading to a firing or a vote of confidence from the front office.
Heading into the final week of the season, the Lions are 6-9 after winning five of their last seven (rebounding from a dismal 1-7 start). The future of his employment remains in the hands of team owner Martha Firestone Ford, and a general manager who has yet to be named.
In his Monday press conference, Caldwell batted down question after question about his future, insisting that his only focus was winning against the Bears this weekend.
"I don't worry about that," he said of his future. "That's not my concern. My concern is this ball game."
Caldwell put his philosophy on the rest of his staff, too, when asked how assistant coaches were handling uncertain futures.
"Our staff – the future they have right now is this next ball game coming up," he said.
Ford is expected to hire a new general manager soon after the season. NFL tampering rules prevent the organization from speaking with candidates during the season, if that candidate is still working for another team.
And the sooner the better – the sooner a new GM can be in place, the sooner head coaching decisions can be made and the rebuilding process can begin.
Caldwell went 11-5 last season, and with the 32-17 win over San Francisco Sunday, is guaranteed a winning record over his two seasons in Detroit.
But the grading of his performance isn't up to him, he says, and is not something he concerns himself with, even as the end of the season draws nearer.
"I'm not worried about my evaluation," he said. "I don't evaluate myself. Someone else does. I'm only worried about winning. I'm worried about this particular ball game coming up. Anything else is somebody else's problem."
