Stephen Tulloch Makes Sense For The Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles need to adjust their plan for the linebackers in wake of what’s happened with Nigel Bradham.

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson addressed the media on Wednesday regarding linebacker Nigel Bradham being charged with assault for allegedly hitting a worker at the Hilton Bentley Hotel in Miami.

Pederson said he had a conversation with Bradham about the incident on Tuesday night, and that he’s still scheduled to join the team for their first full team training camp practice today.

"“I can’t speculate, it’s an ongoing investigation just like Nelson’s situation a few weeks back,” Pederson said. “But I did have a great conversation with him last night. Laid out my expectations for him. Again, those are private conversations, I’m not going to get into much detail about that. He’s obviously humbled by it and he understands the situation and the magnitude. But until we get further details from the authorities, I can’t speculate any further.”"

Pederson added he could not foresee releasing Bradham, but if his situation takes a turn for the worse, one of Jim Schwartz‘s former linebackers in Detroit and Tennessee, Stephen Tulloch could be an option.

While Tulloch does play middle linebacker as opposed to outside linebacker like Bradham, his veteran leadership and understanding of Schwartz’s system could benefit an Eagles defense adjusting to a new scheme. Quarterback Chase Daniel has been described as a coach on the field on the offensive side of the ball, and Tulloch can be described as the same on defense.

More from Inside the Iggles

Schwartz was the head coach of the Detroit Lions from 2009-13, but Tulloch didn’t join the team until he signed a one-year contract with the Lions in 2011. Before joining the Lions, Tulloch played for the Tennessee Titans where he played under Schwartz for three-years while he was Tennessee’s defensive coordinator from 2001-08.

In his three years under Schwartz in “Rock City”, Tulloch posted 111-plus tackles each year, including a year in 2013 where he recorded 135 tackles, the second highest of his career.

Even if Bradham’s case gets dismissed like Nelson Agholor‘s sexual assault case, Tulloch should still be on Howie Roseman‘s radar considering the only veteran backup the Eagles have on the roster is Najee Goode.

The Eagles currently have five rookie linebackers on their roster. And four of the five are undrafted free agents. The other is Joe Walker, the Eagles’ seventh round pick out of Oregon University.

Pederson said Walker is shaping up to be a solid backup on the depth chart, but don’t invest too much into the theory that there’s total confidence in the rookie’s ability to lock down NFL running backs and tight ends on a daily basis.

Tulloch is 31 years old, and that could scare the Eagles from making an offer, but the vet has played a full NFL season every year except in 2014 when he tore his ACL. He’s also coming off of a year where he posted 107 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. The Lions announced they released Tulloch on July 5th.

The Eagles could bring him in at the veteran minimum at $985,000.

When asked by a reporter about acquiring wide receiver Anquan Boldin, who the Eagles reportedly had interest in, Pederson said the team is always looking to improve their team in every aspect on the football field.

“We’re monitoring every roster, every free agent that’s out there, and if we can help our team somehow someway well do it, but right now there’s nothing in the works,” Pederson said.

Home/Eagles News