Lions' linebacker Stephen Tulloch had a long relationship with coach Jim Schwartz that started with the Tennessee Titans.

Here are Tulloch’s thoughts after Schwartz was fired on Monday:

— “I played for Schwartz eight years in the NFL, he drafted me in 2006. I know the person he is and what he means to me as a person off the field as a coach he prepared us week in and week out, it just sucks that he’s fired.

— “Everybody was shocked, I speak for myself, I speak for a lot of guys in this locker room, we wanted him back. Obviously we can’t make the decision to have him back. He was a players’ coach, he treated us like men. The ball didn’t always bounce the way we wanted it to bounce. It’s unfortunate and being the head coach it falls on you. But everybody in this locker room has nothing but respect for him and wishes him the best.’’

— “What I can say is, you come off an 0-16 season, you start to bring players in, you start to win games, the culture definitely changed in Detroit. Players are coming here, talented players. There’s something special they’re building and obviously the standards are set high now —  it’s playoffs or bust basically with the talent we have in this locker room. Unfortunately we started off 6-3 and weren’t able to get to the postseason. I think that’s the biggest deciding factor. It sucks, man, it sucks.’’

(Follow @PaulaPasche on Twitter. Order her book,  “100 Things Lions Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die’’ here. It’s also available at bookstores.)