In its latest filing in the Brian Flores lawsuit, the NFL is not only pushing back against allegations that the league and teams used racially discriminatory hiring practices, but also arguing there should be no public case at all.
The league is requesting the dispute be settled in private arbitration rather than in court — in a potential trial — according to a letter submitted on Thursday that Front Office Sports reviewed.
The league is also asking that the suit be dismissed “for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.”
- The league detailed its intention to file the arbitration request, and in doing so also requested that any discovery period be delayed.
- During the discovery process, previously private details could be revealed in public documents — something the NFL seems intent on avoiding.
Under Flores, who is Black, the Dolphins went 24-25 in three seasons, winning eight of their final nine games in 2021. Miami fired Flores a day after the season ended. He’s since been hired as the Steelers’ senior defensive assistant/linebackers coach.
Flores first filed a lawsuit alleging discriminatory hiring practices in February. Since then, former Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks and assistant Ray Horton have joined as well.
More Coaching Controversies
As the lawsuit continues, the NFL is in the midst of yet another investigation: It has been looking into claims made by former Cleveland Browns coach Hue Jackson that the team paid him to tank — intentionally lose games in order to improve the Browns’ draft position.
Earlier this week, the league confirmed that it’s close to wrapping up the Browns investigation.
