Former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores’ attorneys want the NFL to have his civil lawsuit alleging racial discrimination and Dolphins owner Stephen Ross allegedly offering a financial incentive to lose games to be heard in the federal court system, not in closed arbitration hearings.
Brian Flores’ lawyers’ issue statement
The class-action lawsuit is pending in federal court. The Dolphins recently filed a letter with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell asking to have Flores’ claims against Miami to be heard in arbitration. The law firm has replied, in a letter to Goodell:
“Dear Commissioner Goodell,
We, along with Elefterakis, Elefterakis and Panek, represent Brian Flores. We write in response to the letters submitted by the Miami Dolphins, Ltd. (“Miami” or the “Dolphins”) on February 17 and 18, 2022 (the “Letters”). Together, the Letters request that you compel arbitration of all disputes between Mr. Flores and the Dolphins, including the claims of race discrimination and other wrongdoing alleged against the Dolphins in Flores v. The National Football League, et al., Civil Action No: 1:22 Civ. 00871(VEC) (the “Federal Action”).
“For the reasons outlined herein, we request that you reject Miami’s request to arbitrate its disputes with Mr. Flores because arbitration — which is conducted behind closed doors and outside the public eye — is contrary to all notions of transparency, accountability and fundamental fairness. If the National Football League (“NFL” or the “League”) is truly committed to racial justice and equality, it will not attempt to force Mr. Flores’ claims into arbitration.1 As you know, Mr. Flores recently filed the Federal Action, in which he alleges systemic race discrimination in the NFL with respect to the hiring, treatment, retention and termination of Black executives, Head Coaches, and Coordinators.
“Miami, one of the Defendants in the Federal Action, is alleged to have engaged in race discrimination in connection with its treatment and termination of Mr. Flores. In addition, the owner of the Dolphins, Stephen Ross, unsuccessfully attempted to bribe Mr. Flores to lose games and engage in tampering, all in violation of, inter alia, League rules. This obviously implicates the integrity of the game.”
Further comments
Wigdor Law also issued the following statement on Flores’ behalf:
“The claims that we filed involve important issues of systemic race discrimination and the integrity of NFL football games. Unfortunately, the Dolphins and their attorneys, Quinn Emanuel and Paul Weiss, are trying to push the claims against the Dolphins into secret arbitration proceedings that lack transparency. There are currently ongoing legislative efforts to end forced arbitration for claims of race discrimination, which I fully support.
“I would hope that the NFL and Dolphins would also support those efforts. Commissioner Goodell now has a choice to make. Will he allow this case and future race discrimination claims to play out in a transparent and public legal process, or continue along the same unacceptable path?”
Dolphins release statement after Flores makes allegations against team owner Stephen Ross
“This latest assertion by Brian Flores that Steve Ross mentioned an NDA to him is categorically false,” the organization said in a recent statement. “This just did not happen and we simply cannot understand why Brian continues this pattern of making unfounded statements that he knows are untrue. We are fully cooperating with the NFL investigation and look forward to all of the facts coming out which we are confident will prove that his claims are false and defamatory.”
Did Ross ask Flores to sign an NDA?
Flores’ latest allegation came during an appearance on HBO’s “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.”
According to a transcript of the interview released Tuesday, Flores claims he turned down “millions” of dollars in salary contractually owed to him by refusing to sign an NDA. Weeks after his termination, Flores sued the Dolphins, the NFL, and two other organizations, alleging racial discrimination.
“Just signing that separation agreement would have really silenced me,” Flores said. Late Tuesday, his attorneys released what they classified as a draft agreement and payment termination notice from the organization, but nowhere in those documents was there proof that Ross personally asked him to sign an NDA.
Flores accused Ross of offering him $100,000 per loss during the 2019 season in an attempt to acquire the highest possible draft pick. Flores also accused Ross of improperly setting up a recruiting meeting with a star quarterback — believed to be Tom Brady — in early 2020. The Dolphins have since stridently denied all wrongdoing.
The NFL announced it would look into Flores’ allegations. And during his Super Bowl news conference, Roger Goodell called the allegations “disturbing.”
“Let’s see how this all plays out,” Flores told Gumbel. “I’m the one who has the most to lose here.”
Flores hired as Steelers defensive assistant and linebackers coach
Flores joined the Steelers’ staff as Mike Tomlin’s defensive assistant and linebackers coach.
“I am excited about Brian Flores joining our coaching staff given his history of developing and teaching defensive players during his time in the NFL,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said in a statement. “Brian’s résumé speaks for itself, and I look forward to him adding his expertise to help our team.”
Steelers defensive coordinator Keith Butler retired, and Pittsburgh promoted Teryl Austin to defensive coordinator. Flores is a highly respected defensive coach who previously coached the Patriots’ linebackers prior to being hired by the Dolphins.