DETROIT _ You have to give Detroit Lions coach Matt Patricia credit for at least one thing. Even as the losses have mounted, and along with questions about his job security, he has maintained a gallows sense of humor.
While was explaining Monday how he deals with the uncertainty of his future, Patricia said he has always approached every job with the attitude of trying to earn his job every day.
"I would go in and make sure that my key card worked and I was in the building and I was OK," he said. "It's most of the reason why I don't leave the building because they're going to have to throw me out, like I've said before.
"From that aspect of it, that's all you can control is just your effort that day and your drive that day to be better as a player, as a coach, as a team, and that's all I really worry about."
Otherwise, Patricia avoided giving any specifics about his job status a day after the Lions lost their seventh straight game and fell to 3-10-1.
"Yeah, I just expect to be here every day until they tell me not to," he said. "Hopefully, that'll be a long time."
The strongest indirect defense Patricia gave Monday for keeping his job was the effort his team has put forth during the losing streak as an example of contributing toward sustainable, long-term success.
"I think we just look at, 'OK, what are we building? What have we started and where is our foundation right now?' " he said. "I think having a foundation of a team that is tough, a foundation of a team that is competitive from a standpoint that they're going to come to work every day and try to get better, and then show up on Sunday and really try to do everything they can to compete. I think that's where you need to start, and I would say that's where we're at right now."
Patricia also mentioned the need to "add some pieces" to the roster as well as general improvement and better health as contributing factors toward in creating success.
"I think those things will build on top of each other from there," he said. "But certainly, from a standpoint of trying to put a good foundation, a solid foundation down of being about something from a team, I would say that we've shown at least a foundation of being a tough team, being a competitive team, being a team that won't quit. (We're) a team that's going to go out and compete, and really care about each. I think that's the start."
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