APNew Lions General Manager Bob Quinn says he hasn’t decided whether to retain head coach Jim Caldwell, and he’s not sure when he will.
“I was introduced to coach Caldwell this morning for the first time,” Quinn said at his introductory press conference today. “That process has yet to start. No timetable yet.”
Quinn, whose entire 16-year NFL career has been in New England, said he respects Caldwell as a coach and has thought highly of him for years, noting that Caldwell coached the Colts against the Patriots many times. But he also said he simply doesn’t know yet whether his own philosophy for building a team meshes with Caldwell’s.
Quinn added that the marriage between the coaching staff and the personnel department is the most important thing he learned during his time in New England, and he wants to be certain the next head coach is someone who can work with the personnel department that Quinn is building in Detroit.
The Lions face many big issues heading into this offseason, ranging from free agency to the draft to whether Calvin Johnson will keep playing. But the first big decision is whether to retain Caldwell, and Quinn wants to take his time before making that decision.
my guess is he’ll be fired and they’ll replace him with Josh McDaniels. hopefully though (if McDaniels replaces him) Josh learned about QBs and keeps Stafford. Stafford has the talent to be great, but needs talent around him to win.
If the fact that your new GM did not have a meeting or even a conversation with your head football coach before he was offered the job doesn’t tell you how dysfunctional that organization is, I’m not sure what else would.
Caldwell is the worst in nfl besides the Ryan brothers
@mwcarolina
I’m hearing that McDaniels is interested in the Titans job. As a Titans fan, I hope he doesn’t go to Detroit.
Jim Caldwell, by all accounts, is a great guy. Bob Quinn, by all accounts, is a disciple of Belichick. That means you don’t win you’re gone. It is done so without pride or prejudice. Therefore, Caldwell, who doesn’t win is gone.
Who’s gonna replace him? Matt Patricia?
Ah, Caldwell better contact a real estate agent. He’s toast.
The Ford’s are why this franchise is terrible. When its decades old failure, how many coaches, GM’s, or players can you blame?
Caldwell is not perfect but if you look at the big picture he’s 18-14 in his first two seasons. Keep him one more year unless a homerun hire comes available
Um … the longer you hold on to Caldwell, the harder it’s going to be for him to land a good HC (pro or college) or coordinator position. Not doing him (or yourselves, frankly) any favors there, Mr. Quinn.
If they fire him that idiot Stephen a Smith will play all his cards. “poor” Lovie got 10 million to go away, a terrible coach got 10 million, smallest violin for that guy.
At least they are letting the GM make the call on the HC straightaway. It’s when you bring in a new GM but make him keep the incumbent coach around for a year (like the Bears did with Phil Emery) that things get bazz-ackwards.
Calling BS on that…there’s no *public* timetable, but he’s got something in mind.
It be better to the coach know sooner than later…call it “professionalism”
jjb0811 says:
Jan 11, 2016 2:25 PM
The Ford’s are why this franchise is terrible. When its decades old failure, how many coaches, GM’s, or players can you blame?
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That’s Ford singular as in William Clay. With his passing things appear a bit different
Quinn started to remind me of Belichick in the press conference. His typical answer about players/coaches was something like, “I can’t judge that from afar and won’t put a timetable on anything.”
Someone had the courage to ask why the Pats staff have done poorly when they’ve gone to other teams. Quinn responded that they hadn’t done poorly.
The only real info was that he wants to keep Stafford.
Quinn is waiting on the Patriots playoff run. When they lose(or win the Super Bowl) he will fire Caldwell and hire either McDaniels or Patricia.
Reality is that a call needs to be made quickly so they can still have a decent choice of candidates if they choose to move on. I believe they will give Caldwell one more year and then make a move. Not opposed to that.
If Caldwell is worried about a timetable for getting another job, he can quit. Doesnt have to wait for Quinn to decide what he wants to decide.
can’t interview guys that are still in the Playoffs, so the timetable on Caldwell will coincide with whomever Quinn has in mind (ehem- McDaniels) losing.
His timetable is 3-5 days. Any longer and he misses out on the first tier coaching candidates.
Obviously waiting for Patriots to finish season to hire one of their coordinators… Jim Caldwell is not a head coach.
This is probably the most responsible statement Quinn could make at this early point in his tenure. Caldwell’s accomplishments cannot be discounted nor are they overwhelming impressive. To be retained, Caldwell must explain some curious past decisions and must convincingly make a case for how he will shape his coaching going forward and his vision for reshaping the roster. Quinn should listen closely while monitoring movement in the pool of available coaching upgrades. This year’s looks like a wading pool so, unfortunately, the best plan might just have to be waiting.
You always have to wonder if Caldwell’s resume was first padded by Peyton Manning, then padded a bit more in 2014 by a smoking Lions’ defense and the offensive combo of Stafford and a relatively healthy Megatron.
Caldwell won’t quit/resign b/c he’s under contract. The smart move is to make the Lions fire him if they want a new HC.
The Lions would be smart to fire Caldwell but they HAVE to be decisive b/c the new HC will need time to get his staff together.
tennesseeoilers says:
Jan 11, 2016 2:26 PM
“Um … the longer you hold on to Caldwell, the harder it’s going to be for him to land a good HC (pro or college) or coordinator position. Not doing him (or yourselves, frankly) any favors there, Mr. Quinn.”
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This would only apply unless one already knew their next HC was the current Lions OC; who BTW will be next Lions HC after new GM is done talking to players.
He may actually be telling the truth. If they want to go after McDaniels it could take a while depending on how far the Pats go. And if talks broke down would they then stick with Caldwell or try and make do with somebody else? Pickings will be pretty slim here shortly.
If they were going to keep him, they would say so. Right now they are just buying time so they can shop for someone better.
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Caldwell is a Club Med coach The Lions are an undisciplined, underperforming team with a decent core of talent. A different motivational voice is needed.
BTW – Detroit fans can begin making other plans on draft day. Like Belichick Quinn will be moving all around the board before deciding on some random tackle from East Boise Tech. Your days of 7 rounds of big name / no skills WRs are over.
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The Lions will become the farm team for the Patriots
If I were the Lions, I’d wait until all the available candidates for a head coaching job have already been hired, and then fire Caldwell.
All Quinn has to do is watch a couple of the Lions’ game tapes. Coach Caldwell’s fate has already been sealed by his horrendous in-game management.
a1b24312 says:
Jan 11, 2016 2:46 PM
If Caldwell is worried about a timetable for getting another job, he can quit. Doesnt have to wait for Quinn to decide what he wants to decide.
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In the NFL you don’t quit, you wait to get fired. When you quit you don’t get any money remaining on your contract. When you are fired, you get paid. The only time NFL coaches quit is when they have a bigger payday lined up elsewhere.
If the Lions land a legit, seasoned coach to go with John Fox in Chicago and Mike Zimmer in Minnesota, that NFC North will be no joke, at least from a coaching perspective.
Certainly upgrades from the Lovies, Trestmans, Schwartzes, Childresses and Fraziers that populated the division not so long ago.
“We’ll just let him sway in the breeze a bit. Things are pretty dull around here these days, it gives everyone something to talk about.”.
For some reason I get the impression that Caldwell is not fighting to keep his job as hard as the people around him are. Although maybe he feels his work speaks for itself.
The smart move is to NOT fire Caldwell until you have hired someone that you think is better. If you can’t land one of the coaches that are better, you stick with Caldwell another year and try again in 2017.
Quinn already knows if one of the Patriot coordinators will take the job or not – he doesn’t need to interview them to find out. If that is the direction he intends to go, he can fire Caldwell today. I’m still hoping for Austin…
Read Alboms editorial to Quinn. Its hilarious.
Fire him, but don’t tell him or Martha. I’m pretty sure you could get away with it for a season or two.
Quinn, it’s like pulling off a Band-Aid. Do it fast!
Caldwell’s remarks after the Packer game should be enough for Quinn to decide………
I’m thinking it’s all over for Caldwell. And it’s either Josh McDaniels or Tom Coughlin. Hopefully McDaniels learned how to be a head coach since his stint with Denver, where he was the youngest head coach ever in the NFL at that time.
dpdonny says:
Jan 11, 2016 2:21 PM
Jim Caldwell, by all accounts, is a great guy. Bob Quinn, by all accounts, is a disciple of Belichick. That means you don’t win you’re gone. It is done so without pride or prejudice. Therefore, Caldwell, who doesn’t win is gone.
Who’s gonna replace him? Matt Patricia?
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Patricia has never been a head coach. A brand spankin’ new GM and a brand spankin’ new Head Coach? I don’t think that will happen. If he goes with a buddy it’ll probably be Josh McDaniels.
jjb0811 says:
Jan 11, 2016 2:25 PM
The Ford’s are why this franchise is terrible. When its decades old failure, how many coaches, GM’s, or players can you blame?
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Maybe it’s all the negative energy from all of the negative fans.
lionswinsuperbowl says:
Jan 11, 2016 2:26 PM
Caldwell is not perfect but if you look at the big picture he’s 18-14 in his first two seasons. Keep him one more year unless a homerun hire comes available
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Caldwell is 18-14 over two seasons but a better head coach may have been 23-9 over the same period. He waited far too long to fire Lombardi (problems with the offense date to last season) and he is a very poor game manager.
chesswhileyouplaycheckers says:
Jan 11, 2016 2:39 PM
jjb0811 says:
Jan 11, 2016 2:25 PM
The Ford’s are why this franchise is terrible. When its decades old failure, how many coaches, GM’s, or players can you blame?
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That’s Ford singular as in William Clay. With his passing things appear a bit different
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I agree. Mrs. Ford is my new hero. And chess-checkers didn’t even use the plural of Ford. He used a singular possessive … Ford’s.
a1b24312 says:
Jan 11, 2016 2:46 PM
If Caldwell is worried about a timetable for getting another job, he can quit. Doesnt have to wait for Quinn to decide what he wants to decide.
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WRONG.
This is not Burger King, you can’t have it “Your Way” and you DAMN sure better not “QUIT” and expect other teams not to take notice(Doug Marrone)
He has to play the part of HC to the FULLEST, put his best foot forward with Quinn. OBVIOUSLY the Ford’s like Caldwell or he would’ve been shown the door like Mayhew. They won’t insist Quinn keep Caldwell but I’m sure its gonna have to be a “HOMERUN HIRE” otherwise you have DOWN-GRADED! Caldwell has proven that he can lead a team to where they are trying to be(deep in the playoffs/Super Bowl Caliber). IMO Caldwell deserves 1 more season.
Caldwell has made enough bad decisions to cost him his job. They won in spite of him, not because of him.
If Austin and/or Cooter get tapped out for another job then I see no further point in keeping Caldwell. You can preach continuity all you want but if you don’t have the whole coaching staff then you really aren’t getting that.
We already saw how bad he missed on Joe Lombardi, and we also saw him be loyal to a fault on a bad coordinator. If Caldwell Fired Lombardi 3 weeks earlier we probably wouldn’t even be having this conversation. Maybe they win 1 or 2 more games and make the playoffs and nobody is fired. His insistence in standing behind the wrong man put them in this situation. Do you really trust him to find the right Coordinators if either leave?
Denny Green on line 1
People thought TB was irrational for letting Lovie go after just 2 years with his losing record but it seems everyone is cool with DET getting rid of Caldwell after 2 years with his winning record (including a few shaft jobs by the zebras).
No opinion to give. Just an observation.