By Patrick Del Gaone, Sports Talk Philly staff writer 
Coaches often count on their veteran players to set the tone for a football team heading into a season, and Philadelphia Eagles coordinators Jim Schwartz and Frank Reich are lucky to have some of the hardest working professionals in the NFL to lead by example in 2016.
Schwartz spoke lavishly about the ability and work ethic of newly-acquired Eagles linebacker Stephen Tulloch when he met with the media this morning. Tulloch is no stranger to Schwartz, who worked with the stout veteran for five seasons during his time as head coach of the Detroit Lions.
"He’s a very experienced player," Schwartz said. "He’s played at a high level of production, plays with a lot of spirit. He’s heavy in the run game. He’s got natural leverage. That’s a kind way of saying he’s short. But he’s really powerful, he understands blocking schemes."
During Schwartz’s five-year tenure as Lions head coach, Tulloch made 456 tackles as Detroit’s starting middle linebacker. Schwartz was able to sum up the relentless work ethic of "Tully" by telling reporters about the time he tried to give the North Carolina State product a day off.
"He came in my office mad as a hornet," Schwartz said. “He’s like 'you’re ruining my streak, I’ve never missed a practice' and I think he said going back to high school. He had never missed a practice in high school, college, [and through] eight years in the NFL. Guys like that know how to get themselves ready. I have tremendous respect for guys that have 10 years in the NFL. I’ll bow down to guys that play 10 years in this league, cause its tough business."
On the offensive side, Reich has seen enough inconsistency from his receivers for the front office to make a trade for Dorial Green-Beckham, a talented wideout selected 40th overall in 2015 despite off the field concerns. Considering the question marks outside the hash marks, Reich was asked how often the running backs will be given the opportunity to play a "Danny Woodhead type of role."
"Well Sproles is the original," Reich said. "He’s the prototype. When coach Pederson was hired some of the immediate talk was the excitement that we get to use a guy like Darren Sproles. Certainly he’s the starting point. You get a guy like '43' out there, every week in game planing it’s like, how can we get this guy the football? He’s that kind of a player."
One player who always finds way to contribute despite not always being a focal point in the gameplan is 10-year veteran Brent Celek. Reich was gushing about Celek when asked what the longtime starter brings both on and off the field.
"Brent Celek is one of the hallmark, one of the foundational leaders on this team," Reich said. "The thing I’m most impressed about is, he’s still playing at a high level. As tough as that position is, he’s outmatched on 50 percent of the blocks, half the time he’s blocking defensive ends, and he’s still doing a good job. I see no signs of his game diminishing at all. In the passing game, he’s more than adequate. He’s a pro, he’s got that football toughness attitude. I love the leadership he brings to the offense."
You can watch the full press conference from Schwartz and Reich below.
