INDIANAPOLIS -- Chuck Pagano is still optimistic with (probably) just one week left in the Indianapolis Colts’ season.
The fourth-year head coach was optimistic about his team, saying they’ve been through worse, even though the Colts will finish with their lowest regular season record since 2011. He pointed out the team is still in the playoff hunt, even though Indianapolis needs nine games to go its way next week to make the postseason.
He is even optimistic about the quarterback position for Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans.
“We have a little issue at the quarterback spot,” he said. “We’ll find a way.”
With Andrew Luck and backup Matt Hasselbeck out, the Colts will need to find a way with Josh Freeman or Ryan Lindley.
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Pagano said they had a good day at practice on Wednesday, but the decision on who to start won’t come soon.
“It might be Sunday morning,” Pagano said with a half-smile on his face.
As far as Pagano’s position, it appears that decision will be made after Sunday’s game on whether he continues as head coach.
The Monday after Week 17 for non-playoff teams is known as “Black Monday” in the NFL, where the coaches and general managers are most often fired.
The Colts are no stranger to the concept, as the team fired coach Jim Caldwell, vice president Bill Polian and general manager Chris Polian in the days after finishing 2-14 in 2011.
Pagano said he wants to return in 2016 to the team.
“I will fight my ass off to be the coach here,” he said.
When asked if it’s still on the table for him to be back in 2016, Pagano said he was “worried about Tennessee.”
Pagano admitted the season has “had some bumps,” but continued to be -- you guessed it -- optimistic.
“Still standing, right?” he said.
Be sure to tune in to talk Colts on Horseplay each Monday at 12:30 p.m. in the RTV6 app or on theindychannel.com/horseplay.
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