Jim Caldwell Addresses the Media as Detroit Lions Report

Nov 28, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (90) runs off the field after the game against the Green Bay Packers during a NFL football game on Thanksgiving at Ford Field. Detroit won 40-10. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

On DT Ndamukong Suh’s contract being a potential distraction:

“Number one, he’s in the best shape he’s ever been in.  He’s got a great attitude and certainly once you guys will have the chance to talk to him at some point in time and he’ll be able to speak for himself, but nevertheless I don’t think he’s going to let anything distract him. I’m not worried about it in that regard because Tom (Lewand) and obviously Martin (Mayhew) will get that taken care of. I’ve been through it a few times – I’ve been through it with Peyton (Manning) on a year, been through it most recently with (Joe) Flacco. There are a number of guys that are going through that throughout the League, and our team is no different.”

On if he has any concerns about DE Ezekiel Ansah missing the offseason program:

“One of the things I learned early on in coaching is I coach who shows up, and instruct our staff to do the exact same thing. I cannot worry about how quickly the Lord allows someone to heal. I have to do our business. When he gets healthy and ready to go, he will be ready.   Until then, whoever is out there lined up is going to get coached and coached hard, (to be) ready to go and play for us and win games. So that’s how we look at it. He’s coming along, making great progress, doing everything he can to get there.  I’m sure he will in a reasonable amount of time.”

On the organization’s decision to release CB Chris Houston: 

“You’re going back in time. The whole gambit, we look at everything. Obviously, it depends on how he can help our team and then we look at it from a number of different areas. We made the decision that we’re better off moving in another direction and he was better off moving on with his business, thus the decision was made. ”

On his comfort level with the depth at cornerback: 

“We’re young. We have a couple of guys who have been around the block, but we’re young. But we also have guys who have some talent and ability, which we’ve certainly been pleased with. Some of the young guys that we were able to bring back last week, obviously we’ve been looking at those guys closely. They’re doing a good job. We’ve got some guys that are veterans, young veterans,  that have not played an ordinate amount that we’ve certainly anticipated that they’re going to have to step up and play and play well. We’re pleased where we are right now. This is the real test. This is when we’re really going to find out what we have and there’s a number of spots that we’re going to get a look at them in a totally different sort of an arena at this stage. We’ll see them under the lights in terms of preseason games. We get an opportunity to see them with pads on and to me, those are the things that really matter. ”