Tulloch officially joins Eagles

PHILADELPHIA >> Stephen Tulloch officially signed an Eagles contract Tuesday morning. By Tuesday afternoon, he was in uniform, sweating, working. It’s what he does. It’s what he always does. “I started in 1991, when I was 5 years old,” the Birds’ newest linebacker said, after practice at the NovaCare Complex. “Playing football is a way of life. I love it. I have a passion for practicing. I have a passion for the game.”

It’s that passion that attracted the trained eye of Jim Schwartz, now the Eagles’ defensive coordinator, once an assistant in Tennessee, when he saw Tulloch at North Carolina State and convinced Jeff Fisher to select him in the fourth round of the 2006 draft. Later, Tulloch played for Schwartz in Detroit, where one time he was asked to take a day off from practice. Remember that passion? “We tried to give him a ‘vet’ day off in training camp,” Schwartz said. “He came into my office mad as a hornet and was ready to practice. And I’m like, ‘Hey, look, you’re starting to get up a little bit. Let’s be smart with this.’ He was like, ‘You’re ruining my streak.’ I’m like, ‘What are you talking about?’ He said, ‘Coach, I’ve never missed a practice.’ He never missed a game, but he had never missed a practice and I think he said that dated back to high school.

“So guys like that know how to get themselves ready.”

Tulloch will need to be ready in a hurry, since he was cut by the Lions in July and was not back in a uniform – No. 54 – until Tues-

day after the Birds officially signed him to a oneyear deal.

The North Carolina State product played the last five seasons in Detroit after five seasons in Tennessee.

He has 957 career tackles, 14.5 sacks, five interceptions and two forced fumbles in his 113 starts. He has recovered 11 fumbles. In six of his last seven seasons, he has made at least 100 tackles.

In theory, he will try to earn a job as a middle linebacker. Doug Pederson has plans for him on special teams. All he knows is that he is ready.

“I invest in myself,” he said, after putting in a full practice. “I invest in trainers, massages, chiropractors, acupuncture. I am blessed to be able to do this and I know I have to be ready.”

Tulloch’s contract is reported to be for $3 million with $1.75 million guaranteed.

“He’s a very experienced player,” Schwartz said. “He’s played at a high level of production. He plays with a lot of spirit. He’s heavy in the run game. He has natural leverage. That’s a kind way of saying he’s short, but he’s really powerful. He understands blocking schemes, and he has good understanding of pass games. He’s got a little bit of experience on the defense.

“I don’t know if that means a whole lot. He’s a good player that stands on his own.”

“He’s a very experienced player. He’s played at a high level of production. He plays with a lot of spirit. He’s heavy in the run game. He has natural leverage. That’s a kind way of saying he’s short, but he’s really powerful. He understands blocking schemes, and he has good understanding of pass games. He’s got a little bit of experience on the defense.” — Eagles’ defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz

••• Still recovering from a knee injury and yet to have played in the preseason, Jordan Matthews is doing what he can to remain prepared at a position recently crowded by the arrival of Dorial Green-Beckham.

“If anything, I’ll be able to come back extremely fresh after this,” the thirdyear receiver said, “and be able to jump right back in. Even though I am not out there with them, Sam (Bradford) knows I am doing my best to get back out there.”

According to offensive coordinator Frank Reich, Matthews has remained engaged in practice and in the film room.

“With all of our players who miss time, you don’t like it, because every rep is so important,” Reich said. “You can only get so many reps out there. Jordan’s that kind of guy that you never like not being out there. But he’s so into it. He’s so into practice. Even when he’s not getting the reps, he’s so into it in the meetings – engaged, asking questions, talking to Sam all the time. So, you make the best of a tough situation.”

••• Bennie Logan is among the Birds happy that Tulloch is familiar with Schwartz’s defensive schemes.

“Knowledge is always a good thing,” the veteran defensive tackle said. “That’s important if we are going to be dominant. It’s also important to have a guy like that who is physical. He’ll bring great things. I am just really eager to work with him.”

••• Carson Wentz, recovering from a rib injury, is not practicing, but is throwing lightly.

“Carson spent extra time in the film room,” Reich said. “And then even out on the practice field, he is asking a lot of questions, always staying tuned into the script, always watching Sam, Chase (Daniel) and McLeod (BethelThompson), getting the reps and then talking things through. When talking things through out on the field, you can get something done.”