Sport is not immune to racism and it takes courage and conviction to denounce it and fight against it.
The NFL walks on eggshells every time it talks about the lack of African-Americans in strategic positions like head coach or otherwise. The Rooney Rule was set up to encourage franchises to take on people from minorities for the positions of head coach and in football operations.
But now Brian Flores is throwing a huge stone into the pond: the former Dolphins coach is filing a complaint against the NFL, the Dolphins, the Giants and the Broncos for racist practices against black coaches.
But this is not an individual action since it is the opening of a collective action, opening the door to other coaches from minorities who would have known this kind of story. In Flores’ complaint, Bill Belichick’s name comes up as a result of messages sent to Flores prior to his interview with the Giants. The former Dolphins coach also accuses his former owner Steve Ross to want to pay him $100,000 per loss so he could get the best possible draft spot to get a big quarterback.
Brian Flores hopes to open Pandora’s box and that his action will make things happen.
“In making the decision to file the class action lawsuit today, I understand that I may be risking coaching the game that I love and which has done so much for me and my family. My sincere hope is that in standing up against systemic racism in the NFL, others will join me in ensuring positive change is made for generations to come. “
Former Miami HC Brian Flores is suing the NFL, the Giants, the Dolphins and the Broncos for alleged “racism in hiring”, and he includes texts from Patriots’ HC Bill Belichick in the suit as evidence. Lawsuit filed in Manhattan Federal Court seeking unspecified damages from NFL.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 1, 2022
Can confirm reports that ex-Dolphins coach Brian Flores has indeed filed a class action lawsuit against the New York Giants and NFL, claiming racial discrimination.
His complaint alleges he can prove Giants interviewed him as a “Rooney Rule” after deciding to hire Brian Daboll. pic.twitter.com/exYjW5qBAA
— Dan Lust 🎙 (@SportsLawLust) February 1, 2022
