Chip Kelly Goes Sam Spade

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We all know the story by now. Right after the Eagles’ season ended Jeffrey Lurie stated that Howie Roseman would return as Eagles GM. Last week, Tom Gamble is suddenly fired from the Eagles front office personnel department. In the aftermath of the Gamble move, Howie Roseman is stripped of all personnel decision making responsibilities and Chip is the man in charge.

How this all transpired seemed to be right out of the Maltese Falcon with Chip Kelly playing the Humphrey Bogart role of Sam Spade and Jeffrey Lurie playing the role of Casper Gutman, the rich fat guy looking to procure the Maltese Falcon. Howie Roseman plays the role of Gutman’s youthful henchman Wilmer.  The Lombardi Trophy playing the role of the ever elusive Maltese Falcon.

In one of the final scenes in the film, Sam Spade lays out a plan where everyone is happy. Gutman gets the bird. Spade get paid. All they needed was a fall guy to hand over to authorities for a couple of murders on. Spade suggests making it Wilmer. After some debate, Gutman agrees to set up Wilmer. When Wilmer awakens from being knocked out by Spade, Gutman informs him that he’s being handed over to the authorities by uttering these devastating words:

I want you to know, I couldn’t be fonder of you if you were my own son. Well, if you lose a son, it’s possible to get another. There’s only one Maltese Falcon.

Seems like Chip went all Bogart/Spade and forcefully told Jeffrey Lurie that he wants total control of the Eagles personnel or he’s bailling. Lurie ponders this. Chip insists that Howie’s the fall guy. Lurie’s been reportedly quite fond of Howie, almost like a son according to some reports. Lurie then agrees to Chip’s wishes. He informs Howie with similar words to Gutman:

Howie, I want you to know, I couldn’t be fonder of you if you were my own son. Well, if you lose a son, it’s possible to get another. There’s only one Chip Kelly!

There’s only one and he’s in Philadelphia. The future success of the Eagles now falls squarely on Chip’s shoulders. Hopefully, this move works out better than the end of Maltese Falcon did for Gutman. Gutman ended up with a fake bird. If, by chance, you haven’t seen the Falcon, I’m sorry for spoiling it. It’s been over 70 years so that probably excuses any spoiling. Below is the clip where Wilmer learns his fate.