DETROIT � Fired Lions coach Jim Caldwell released a statement through the team Monday night thanking owner Martha Ford for her support.
The statement did not mention general manager Bob Quinn, who said Monday afternoon that the decision to fire Caldwell "was mine and mine alone."
"My wife Cheryl and I greatly appreciate the tremendous opportunity to have been a part of the Lions organization serving as head coach for the past 4 years," Caldwell said in his statement. "We offer our sincere gratitude to Martha Ford, the Ford family and the entire Detroit organization for an abundance of confidence and encouragement during our time with the team. I am blessed to have had successful years as a member of the Lions' organization, and I would be remiss if I did not recognize the great effort put forth by our players and coaching staff who poured their hearts out in an effort to maintain the standard of excellence this organization has grown to expect.
"I wish the Lions, my coaching staff, our players and the loyal Lions fans, who were very supportive, much continued success in the future."
Caldwell went 36-28 in four seasons as Lions coach and led the team to three winning records and two playoff appearances.
Quinn said he decided to fire Caldwell late Sunday night, after the team's season-ending 35-11 win over the Green Bay Packers, in part because he could not see Caldwell leading the organization to a championship.
The Lions went just 4-23 against teams that finished with a winning record during Caldwell's tenure in Detroit.
"We didn't get there," Quinn said. "We didn't get there. We worked at it for two years and we didn't get there. So that's the decision that I came to."
Caldwell was fired early Monday morning and was not around the Lions' Allen Park training facility by the time players arrived for their post-season physicals and exit meeting.
Though many players were staunch Caldwell supporters, they all said his firing was part of business in the NFL.
"In this league, nothing should ever surprise you," wide receiver Marvin Jones said. "Obviously, we didn't do what we needed to do and obviously we wish something would have happened differently to create a different outcome, but the fact of the matter is we didn't so it's always tough.
"When I (saw the news he was fired) on my phone, I got really emotional just because of the man he is and the effect that he had on everybody in this locker room. But at the same time, we know what it is in this business and we have to just keep moving forward."
