Brian Flores, the fired coach of the Miami Dolphins, filed a lawsuit against the NFL and three of its teams on Tuesday, claiming the league’s racist hiring practices have resulted in racial segregation and similar management. ‘a plantation.
Published on 1is february
The lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court seeks class-action status and unspecified damages from the league, Dolphins, Denver Broncos and New York Giants, as well as unspecified individuals. identified.
Flores was fired last month by Miami after leading the Dolphins to a 24-25 record in three seasons. They finished the most recent season with a 9-8 record, their second consecutive winning season, but failed to qualify for the playoffs.
“God gave me a special talent to coach football, but the need for change is more important than my personal goals,” Flores said in a statement released by the law firm representing him in the case. By making the decision to file a class action complaint today, I understand that I could risk no longer sharing the sport that I love and which has done so much for me and my family. My sincere hope is that by speaking out against systemic racism in the NFL, others will join me in ensuring positive change for generations to come. »
In a statement, the NFL said it would defend itself “against these allegations, which are without merit.” The league added, “The NFL and our clubs are deeply committed to ensuring fair employment practices. We continue to make progress in providing equitable opportunities across all of our organizations.
“Diversity is at the heart of everything we do. There are few issues on which our clubs and our management team spend more time. »
The lawsuit alleges the league discriminated against Flores and other black coaches on racial grounds, denying them positions as head coaches, offensive and defensive coordinators, and quarterback coaches, as well than general managers.
“In some respects, the NFL is racially segregated and run like a plantation,” the lawsuit states.
“Its 32 owners – none of whom are black – benefit greatly from the work of NFL players, 70% of whom are black. Owners watch games from the top of NFL stadiums in their luxury box, while their mostly black workforce puts their bodies at risk every Sunday, taking heavy beatings and sustaining debilitating body and brain injuries , while the NFL and its owners reap billions of dollars,” she adds.
At the heart of the lawsuit are text messages from Patriots coach Bill Belichick mistakenly congratulating what he believes to be Brian Daboll, ultimately hired for the job, even before Flores was interviewed. Flores would conclude that his interview was only a facade to make believe in a search for diversity in the personnel of the Giants.
The Giants reacted by clarifying that Flores had been considered until the very end of the process, but in the end they hired whoever they felt was the most qualified.
According to the lawsuit, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross offered to pay Flores $100,000 for every loss in his first season because he wanted his team to get the first draft pick. The lawsuit alleges that Ross then pressured Flores to sign a top quarterback in violation of NFL rules about raiding. When Flores refused, he was reportedly described as the “angry black man” who is hard to work with. He would have been ridiculed until the moment of his dismissal.
Flores also alleges that John Elway and Broncos CEO Joe Ellis conducted a ‘fake interview’ with him in 2019. They showed up late and ‘disheveled, and it seemed obvious they had been drinking heavily the night before. “.
This lawsuit tends to demonstrate that the “Rooney Rule” is only a smokescreen. This rule, put in place in 2003 and then expanded in its application in 2020, requires each team that must fill head coach, coordinator or general manager positions to interview at least one member of a visible minority. .
