Bomb Shell: Flores Suing Dolphins, League in Class Action

HalCHorn wrote:And regarding Flores' firing, some context:

There were 7 other new NFL coaching hires prior to 2019.

Two of those hires, Arians and now Taylor, went to the SB within 3 seasons of hire.
A third, Klingsbury, took over the team with the worst record and had them in the playoffs in year three.  And.....isn't 100% safe despite that, though he is coming back next year.

LaFluer has been in the playoffs all 3 years, granted, with Rodgers.

The other hires:  Kitchens was gone in one year, Gase in two, and Fangio and Flores both failed to make the playoffs in 3 years and now are gone.

Given THAT context, that two of the playoff coaches had the worst record in the league in 2018 and 2019 respectively and are now playoff teams, Flores doesn't have much to complain about.  He had it in his hands to make the playoffs in both 2020 and 2021 late in the season and failed spectacularly in big games on the road.  Every team that hired a coach the same year has moved on after failing to get to the playoffs in 3 years.  Why the guy is mad at Miami is beyond me.

JMP wrote:That is a monumental post, FF!!!  Outstanding work!  If we had a 'post of the year' you'd be leading the race so far!  

HalCHorn wrote:Per Phins.com News wire (because I will never give that jagoff Florio the clicks), PFT has had one post per hour on Flores/Ross the past 12 hours.  Lord, Florio's orgasm over this story may be endless.

HalCHorn wrote:Per Phins.com News wire (because I will never give that jagoff Florio the clicks), PFT has had one post per hour on Flores/Ross the past 12 hours.  Lord, Florio's orgasm over this story may be endless.

The NFL issued a blanket denial of Flores' claims shortly after his lawsuit went public on Tuesday, dismissing the entirety of his allegations as "without merit." Flores' lawsuit also leveled accusations of racial discrimination against the Denver Broncos, the New York Giants and the NFL while citing alleged texts from New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick.

On Wednesday, news broke that the NFL apparently isn't dismissing all of the claims. The Washington Post reported that the league plans to open an investigation with a focus on the allegations of tanking made against Ross — an investigation that Ross acknowledged — and welcomed — in his late-night statement.

Two Dolphins assistant coaches have risen to Flores’ defense in the wake of his lawsuit alleging discrimination regarding his interview process with the Denver Broncos and New York Giants and his dismissal last month by the Dolphins.

“I’ve worked with Brian Flores for 3 years and this story that he is “Hard to work with” is news to me,” cornerbacks coach Charles Burks said on Twitter. “His coaching style is what you’d expect from a great teacher: Demanding, Detailed and a heightened sense of Urgency to make corrections.

“This is the Standard of coaching in the NFL. Unfortunately, if you’re a “Black Man” this can lead to a “Smear Campaign” keeping you from other opportunities. I’ve had the pleasure of working for Brian Flores the past three years. I’ve experienced nothing but accountability, direction, and inspiration from Brian Flores. He was and IS a true leader of Men.”

After Flores filed the lawsuit Tuesday, Dolphins defensive backs coach Gerald Alexander said on Twitter: “I already had a lot of respect for Brian Flores before today. Today confirmed he’s one of the best leaders I’ve ever been around. Respect the experience that I had with him as a position coach on his staff the last 2 seasons and the courage he’s displayed with the news of today and what that can mean for his own career in the coaching profession.”

mercury22nathan wrote:oh, and that whole trying to keep the defensive coaching staff in tact...

Two Dolphins assistant coaches have risen to Flores’ defense in the wake of his lawsuit alleging discrimination regarding his interview process with the Denver Broncos and New York Giants and his dismissal last month by the Dolphins.

“I’ve worked with Brian Flores for 3 years and this story that he is “Hard to work with” is news to me,” cornerbacks coach Charles Burks said on Twitter. “His coaching style is what you’d expect from a great teacher: Demanding, Detailed and a heightened sense of Urgency to make corrections.

“This is the Standard of coaching in the NFL. Unfortunately, if you’re a “Black Man” this can lead to a “Smear Campaign” keeping you from other opportunities. I’ve had the pleasure of working for Brian Flores the past three years. I’ve experienced nothing but accountability, direction, and inspiration from Brian Flores. He was and IS a true leader of Men.”

After Flores filed the lawsuit Tuesday, Dolphins defensive backs coach Gerald Alexander said on Twitter: “I already had a lot of respect for Brian Flores before today. Today confirmed he’s one of the best leaders I’ve ever been around. Respect the experience that I had with him as a position coach on his staff the last 2 seasons and the courage he’s displayed with the news of today and what that can mean for his own career in the coaching profession.”

https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/barry-jackson/article257142782.html

i guess these two - the two that were worth keeping - won't be sticking around.

He's the only defensive coach I'd be concerned about losing - the rest can take a hike as far as I'm concerned. I'm ready to blow this entire coaching staff up.

In a strongly worded statement issued shortly before midnight Wednesday, Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross denied allegations he offered former head coach Brian Flores a $100,000 bonus for every loss in the 2019 season.

“With regards to the allegations being made by Brian Flores, I am a man of honor and integrity and cannot let them stand without responding," Ross' statement read. "I take great personal exception to these malicious attacks, and the truth must be known. His allegations are false, malicious and defamatory.

"We understand there are media reports stating that the NFL intends to investigate his claims, and we will cooperate fully. I welcome that investigation and I am eager to defend my personal integrity, and the integrity and values of the entire Miami Dolphins organization, from these baseless, unfair and disparaging claims.”

white1 wrote:

He's the only defensive coach I'd be concerned about losing - the rest can take a hike as far as I'm concerned. I'm ready to blow this entire coaching staff up.

Be careful what you wish for JMP, because you might just get it.

I have no idea who our next head coach will be, or the staff they will be able to assemble.  Given the shit show our franchise has become, someone with Gerald Alexander-light qualifications will probably be our defensive coordinator.  And we'll be praying for someone like Charlie Frye to run the offense.

JMP wrote:Give 'em hell, Ross!  Fuck Flores!  

The strangest thing about this whole incident is that it may end up with me liking Ross a little bit!  The more I think about it, the more I think Flo's claims are bullshit.  If he has all this "corroborating evidence", why keep it hidden?  What's the benefit of waiting?  He has no problem pointing fingers on every major TV network, so why hide the "proof"?

DolFan 316 wrote:SO...instead of actually joining his class action suit and committing career suicide, other black coaches will just issue passive-aggressive tweets in support of Flores? Got it.

I guarantee you most of those tweets will be deleted within 24 hours, for obvious reasons.

CarsonChris wrote:If Flores lands a coaching job now I expect the players to rally around him. I think the perceived notion of racism is larger amongst the 70% of the NFL black players. I imagine an entirely new reach out program to be instated within the NFL.

JMP wrote:He has no problem pointing fingers on every major TV network, so why hide the "proof"?

mercury22nathan wrote:

JMP wrote:He has no problem pointing fingers on every major TV network, so why hide the "proof"?

yep, CBS, ESPN, CNN...and counting...  its a legal strategy.  if you know your legal claim isn't strong enough to win in court, you try to win the court of public opinion...and try to finagle a large settlement out of the deal.

Although the lawsuit seems to be going scorched Earth against the NFL and it would appear Flores has bigger goals in mind than to lead a football team, the 40-year-old expressed interest on Wednesday in coaching either the Houston Texans or the New Orleans Saints, two clubs he has interviewed with.

“I’m still very interested in coaching and leading either one of those teams,” Flores said on ESPN via Matt Young of the Houston Chronicle.

“While I was not planning to respond publicly to the false and defamatory claims by Brian Flores, I could not be silent any longer with my character, integrity and professionalism being attacked,” Elway said in a statement issued on Thursday. “I took Coach Flores very seriously as a candidate for our head coaching position in 2019 and enjoyed our three-and-a-half hour interview with him. Along with the rest of our group, I was prepared, ready and fully engaged during the entire interview as Brian shared his experience and vision for our team. . . . It’s unfortunate and shocking to learn for the first time this week that Brian felt differently about our interview with him.

“For Brian to make an assumption about my appearance and state of mind early that morning was subjective, hurtful and just plain wrong. If I appeared ‘disheveled,’ as he claimed, it was because we had flown in during the middle of the night — immediately following another interview in Denver — and were going on a few hours of sleep to meet the only window provided to us. . . . I interviewed Brian in good faith, giving him the same consideration and opportunity as every other candidate for our head coaching position in 2019.”

...

The presence of the word “defamatory” in Elway’s statement raises the question of whether Elway is considering suing Flores for defamation. The strong Wednesday night statement from Dolphins owner Stephen Ross created a similar perception.