Colts coach Chuck Pagano on job speculation: 'They can't eat you'
Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano doesn't sound like a coach who is in the thick of a race to win the division title, but perhaps it's because his team is coming off two blowout losses that have led to increased speculation about his job security.
"They can't eat you," Pagano told reporters Monday. "They can fire you, but they can't eat you. So if the worst thing is a year from now, let's say I'm in Boise playing with my granddaughters, I'm going to be fine. That ain't going to happen, but I'm going to be fine if I go down that road."
The Colts are 6-7 heading into Sunday's AFC South showdown against the Houston Texans, who are tied with Indianapolis atop the division standings with three games remaining. However, the Colts have lost back-to-back games against Pittsburgh and Jacksonville by a combined 70 points.
This is the first time Indianapolis has allowed at least 45 points in back-to-back games since 1954, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
"We have a great opportunity, as bad as it may seem, with our record, the ups, the downs, the ebbs and flows, however you want to state it," Pagano said. "There won't be anybody outside this building at West 56th Street that will give us any chance. We've got a job to do. We've got a great opportunity.
"[The players] understand the circumstances. We all do. Playing at home, division rival, division game, division on the line. I don't know how you cannot get up for this contest."
The Colts continue to be without quarterback Andrew Luck, as his chances to return this season are still up in the air as he recovers from a lacerated kidney. Luck said his goal is to practice this week, but he doesn't yet feel 100 percent.
Meanwhile, as the Colts continue to struggle, speculation continues to swirl about Pagano's future with the team.
"That's what comes with this job," Pagano said. "But we all know what we signed up for. What are you going to do? So what? Now what?"
ESPN staff writer Mike Wells contributed to this report.
