Miami Dolphins

Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross is reportedly in danger of losing the team if an investigation by the NFL confirms allegations by former head coach Brian Flores, who said Ross incentivized losing games.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that Ross could face "severe" discipline if Flores' allegations are found to be true.

"A league source confirmed that owners could, in fact, vote a fellow owner out under the most dire circumstances based on league rules, which would require a three-fourths vote," Rapoport wrote.

As part of his lawsuit against the NFL alleging racist and discriminatory hiring practices, Flores stated that Ross offered him $100,000 for every loss during the 2019 season.

He said he declined the offer, but Ross was more concerned about securing the No. 1 draft pick that year than he was with winning games. The Cincinnati Bengals wound up selecting quarterback Joe Burrow first overall in 2020.

Flores was fired by the Dolphins in January despite back-to-back winning seasons.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell addressed the allegations last week, saying the league is looking into the matter and a punishment will be levied if necessary.

"Integrity of the game is, obviously, an important element, just as making sure we have the right culture in our organizations across the league and at clubs," Goodell said. "But we are going to look into that, and we will make sure that if there were violations, that they won't be tolerated."

For his part, Ross has denied Flores' allegations and said he would cooperate with the league's investigation.

"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," Ross said.

Goodell didn't specify what type of penalties Ross would face, but he reiterated that the league is not taking the allegations lightly.

"I couldn't speculate on what they'll be because we'll have to find out what the facts are, what's the outcome?" Goodell said on Feb. 9. "And when we know what those facts are and the impact it has on our game, we'll deal with it very seriously, just as we will if there's any discrimination in the league. They will be dealt with very seriously."

Former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores will reportedly alter his lawsuit against the NFL, Dolphins, Denver Broncos and New York Giants to include a retaliation claim against the Houston Texans for not hiring him, according to ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio. 

Flores was reportedly a finalist for the Texans' head coaching position, but the franchise opted to hire defensive coordinator Lovie Smith instead. 

Florio writes:

"Common sense suggests that the Texans realized they couldn’t hire unproven and inexperienced Josh McCown, and they wouldn’t hire Flores. Smith became the compromise candidate, arguably thrown into the mix late to allow the Texans to avoid hiring Flores."

On Feb. 1, ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques reported Flores' lawsuit against the NFL and several of its teams. Before adding the Texans to the lawsuit, Flores alleged discrimination in his interview process with the Broncos and Giants, and in his firing by the Dolphins. 

Flores also alleges that Dolphins owner Stephen Ross attempted to bribe him to lose games on purpose after he was hired in 2019. Flores alleges that Ross offered him $100,000 for every loss during the 2019 campaign. 

The Dolphins opened the 2019 season with seven straight losses but won five of their last nine games. They ended with the fifth overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft and selected Tua Tagovailoa. Flores said that Dolphins general manager Chris Grier told him Ross was upset that the team's late wins were "compromising [the team's] draft position."

Flores also listed other allegations against Ross, including saying he was "treated with disdain and held out as someone who was noncompliant and difficult to work with."

The Dolphins fired Flores on Jan. 10 despite the 40-year-old leading the team to back-to-back winning seasons and going 24-25 overall. 

As for the Giants, Flores alleged the franchise only interviewed him to satisfy the Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview minority candidates for vacant coaching positions. In addition, Flores alleged that in 2019, former Broncos general manager John Elway arrived to his interview hungover. 

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell recently admitted during a news conference that the league must do better in its interviewing and hiring process.

“We believe in diversity. We believe it has made us stronger. People who have come into the league who are diverse have been very successful and made us better, and we just have to do a better job. ... Is there another thing that we can do to make sure that we’re attracting the best talent and making our league more inclusive? If I had the answer right now, I would give it to you. I would have implemented it.

I think we have to continue to look and find and step back and say, 'We're not doing a good enough job here.' We need to find better solutions and better outcomes. Let's find more effective policies. Let's make sure everyone understands. Let's make sure that we're looking at diversity and incentivizing that for everybody in our building.

However, those comments came after Goodell said Flores' allegations were "without merit." 

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said he will investigate tanking allegations levied by former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores in his lawsuit against the league and several of its teams.

"Integrity of the game is very important," Goodell told reporters Wednesday. "We'll deal with it very seriously."

The commissioner said all the allegations in the lawsuit were "very disturbing."

Flores alleged racial discrimination against the NFL in its hiring practices while also stating that he was fired after refusing to "tank" while head coach of the Dolphins. The lawsuit asserts:

During the 2019 season, Miami’s owner, Stephen Ross, told Mr. Flores that he would pay him $100,000 for every loss, and the team’s General Manager, Chris Grier, told Mr. Flores that 'Steve' was 'mad' that Mr. Flores' success in winning games that year was 'compromising [the team's] draft position.'

The Dolphins went 5-11 in Flores' first season before producing a 19-14 record over the last two years.

Former Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson also said he was paid bonuses for hitting certain benchmarks tied to losing, telling ESPN's Keyshawn, JWill and Max that he made $750,000 during his three seasons for such benchmarks. Jackson later told CNN's Anderson Cooper that his situation had "similarities" to Flores' but that the Browns didn't pay him specifically to lose games.

The Browns were 3-36-1 under Jackson before he was fired in 2018.

Despite the lost seasons in Cleveland, the organization benefited from them with consecutive No. 1 overall picks used on Myles Garrett in 2017 and Baker Mayfield in 2018.

With the league's competitive balance possibly at stake, Goodell is seemingly now ready to look into the allegations after the NFL initially said the lawsuit was "without merit."  

The Miami Dolphins agreed to terms on a deal to make San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel their next head coach Sunday.

Adam Schefter of ESPN, who broke the news that a deal was in the works, reported McDaniel signed a four-year contract.

Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network provided more details:

Miami was down to two finalists and they pick McDaniel over #Cowboys OC Kellen Moore. https://t.co/4KcoxHtHh8

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 6, 2022

New #Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel, who is multiracial, is the first minority head coach hired in this cycle -- replacing Brian Flores, who filed a class action lawsuit last week regarding a lack of diversity in hiring.

The #49ers will receive two third-round compensatory picks.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 6, 2022

New #Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel has interest in keeping many of the defensive assistants currently under contract, including DC Josh Boyer, sources say. Continuity for a unit that played quite well down the stretch.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 7, 2022

The Dolphins chose McDaniel to replace Brian Flores, who was fired on Jan. 10 despite posting a 19-14 record in his last two seasons.

Although Miami didn't make the playoffs under the 40-year-old, he did lead the team to back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2003.

That led to speculation as to why Flores was fired after three years despite being a well-respected coach among many of the players.

Per Rapoport, there was "frustration and tension" between general manager Chris Grier and Flores:

From @GMFB: The #Dolphins fired coach Brian Flores, while they are keeping GM Chris Grier. pic.twitter.com/iS3KosqSbX

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 10, 2022

Ultimately, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross decided to stick with Grier.

Statement from the Miami Dolphins. pic.twitter.com/Lh1WaAIRY9

— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) January 10, 2022

Flores is now suing the Dolphins, the NFL and the rest of the league's 31 teams in a class-action lawsuit, citing racist and discriminatory hiring practices within the league for head coach, general manager and coordinator positions.

The Dolphins interviewed numerous candidates but ultimately settled on a pair of finalists in McDaniel and Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, per Rapoport.

McDaniel reportedly interviewed with the Dolphins for 10 hours on Friday, per Peter Schrager of Fox Sports. Moore spoke with Miami on Saturday.

Now the Dolphins turn to McDaniel, who will be the team's eighth head coach in 20 years.

Pelissero reported Tuesday that Miami put in a request to interview the 38-year-old, who was the 49ers' run game coordinator from 2017-20 before receiving a promotion to offensive coordinator for 2021.

The #Dolphins put in a request to interview #49ers OC Mike McDaniel for their head coaching job, per source.

The Yale grad is Kyle Shanahan's longtime right-hand man and run-game guru.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 11, 2022

McDaniel's resume also included two years as an offensive assistant under ex-Falcons offensive coordinator (and current 49ers head coach) Kyle Shanahan in 2015-2016.

He worked with wide receivers for the Washington Football Team (2013) and Cleveland Browns (2014), among other stops in an NFL career that began in 2005 as a Denver Broncos intern.

The 49ers' rushing attack finished 18th, 14th, eighth and 17th in yards per carry during McDaniel's four seasons as the run game coordinator. This year's offense finished 13th in points per game.

Shanahan and McDaniel collaborated to find creative ways for their best players to touch the ball. For example, Deebo Samuel finished the year with 1,770 total yards (1,405 rushing, 365 receiving) and 14 touchdowns. He recorded 59 carries and eight scores on the ground.

Ultimately, the 49ers seemingly get the most out of their offensive talents, as was the case when San Francisco made the Super Bowl two years ago.

Now McDaniel will be tasked with doing the same in Miami. His relationship with third-year quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will be crucial as the team looks to rebound from finishing just No. 22 in scoring.

Ultimately, McDaniel is coming into Miami as an offensive guru, and the Dolphins hope he can rectify a unit that hasn't finished top six in the NFL in scoring since 1994.

Former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores' class-action lawsuit against the NFL and its 32 teams includes an allegation that Fins owner Stephen Ross offered to pay him $100,000 per loss during the 2019 season so the team could obtain better 2020 draft picks.

Flores also says that Ross wanted him to speak with a "prominent" under-contract quarterback during the 2020 offseason in violation of the league's tampering rules.

Ross offered this response to Flores' claims Wednesday, calling them "false, malicious and defamatory."

Daniel Oyefusi of the Miami Herald relayed the entire statement:

Statement from Dolphins owner Stephen Ross pic.twitter.com/VmantkikVU

— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) February 3, 2022

Flores became the Dolphins' head coach in 2019 as the team began a monstrous rebuild that included a new general manager (Chris Grier) and head coach. The Dolphins were essentially building their roster from scratch and entered the 2019 season with low expectations and without a potential franchise signal-caller.

Miami started 0-7 but finished 5-4 to go 5-11. In his lawsuit, Flores says that Grier told him Ross was "mad" and that the Dolphins' late-season winning was "compromising [the team's] draft position."

As far as the tampering claims, Joe Schad of the Palm Beach Post reported that Ross wanted Flores to speak with Tom Brady, the seven-time Super Bowl champion who has since retired. Brady became a free agent in March 2020 after a 20-year stint in New England.

The lawsuit reads:

After the end of the 2019 season, Mr. Ross began to pressure Mr. Flores to recruit a prominent quarterback in violation of League tampering rules. Mr. Flores repeatedly refused to comply with these improper directives.

Undeterred, in the winter of 2020, Mr. Ross invited Mr. Flores onto a yacht for lunch. Shortly after he arrived, Mr. Ross told Mr. Flores that the prominent quarterback was 'conveniently' arriving at the marina.

Obviously, Mr. Ross had attempted to 'set up' a purportedly impromptu meeting between Mr. Flores and the prominent quarterback. Mr. Flores refused the meeting and left the yacht immediately. After the incident, Mr. Flores was treated with disdain and held out as someone who was noncompliant and difficult to work with.

The crux of Flores' lawsuit is his contention that the league "remains rife with racism, particularly when it comes to the hiring and retention of Black Head Coaches, Coordinators and General Managers."

As of Wednesday, only three people of color have NFL head coaching jobs, and only seven hold general manager positions.

Flores was fired after three seasons in Miami (24-25) despite posting winning campaigns in each of his last two years.

The NFL is reportedly expected to investigate the tanking and tampering allegations that former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores made against the organization and owner Stephen Ross, per multiple reports Wednesday.

The NFL will investigate the specific allegations that Brian Flores has made concerning Dolphins owner Stephen Ross offering him $100,000 per-loss incentives in 2019 to gain a better draft position, a league source said. Other potential rules violations also will be investigated.

— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) February 2, 2022

It is not believed that the NFL's probe into these matters has begun. No timetable is being specified. https://t.co/YHwM4dhHld

— MarkMaske (@MarkMaske) February 3, 2022

That comes a day after the NFL said in a statement that Flores' allegations of racial discrimination in hiring practices—made in a lawsuit against the league and the Dolphins, New York Giants and Denver Broncos—were "without merit."

The NFL has released a statement in response to Brian Flores’ claims, which it says “are without merit.” pic.twitter.com/97CbHXT6CJ

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) February 1, 2022

Flores says in the lawsuit that Ross offered him $100,000 per loss in 2019. He also says that general manager Chris Grier told him that Ross was "mad" when the Dolphins won five of their final nine games that season and that Flores was "compromising [the team's] draft position."

“I deal in truth….this game has done a lot for me.. my parents are immigrants, I’m first generation.. to disrespect the game that way.. trust was lost.”

-Brian Flores on allegations that Dolphins owner Stephen Ross offered incentives to tank ($100k for every loss in 2019)

— Kevin Negandhi (@KevinNegandhi) February 2, 2022

The NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe reported Wednesday that he spoke to a person who corroborated Flores' allegations:

As I mention at end, I spoke with a witness who said he heard Steve Ross offer Brian Flores 100K for every 2019 loss.

Flores’ team says they have corroborating evidence including messages from GM Chris Grier. IF proven, integrity of game in Q. Dolphins denied the allegations. https://t.co/KnIPjHMhjb

— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) February 2, 2022

If Ross was essentially bribing Flores to tank games, the repercussions could go beyond any NFL investigation:

Stephen Ross was reported in Nov. 2019 to have invested into a sports gambling startup as part of a $17.5M fundraising round. https://t.co/5lg27kg4MC

If an NFL team owner is investing in sports gambling while incentivizing his head coach to lose games, that's a gigantic issue.

— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) February 1, 2022

For Stephen Ross and/or Jimmy Haslam, allegations that coaches and/or others were given financial incentives to lose games could result in federal prosecution. https://t.co/jyLDXdoWdW

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) February 2, 2022

He also says Ross pressured him to meet with a "prominent quarterback" after the 2019 season despite that player being under contract with another team. Joe Schad of the Palm Beach Post has reported that the quarterback was Tom Brady.

Flores says that Ross then invited him onto his yacht for a lunch in the winter of 2020, only for the quarterback in question to also show up at the boat for an "impromptu" meeting. Flores says he left immediately and was "treated with disdain and held out as someone who was noncompliant and difficult to work with."

"The implication that we acted in a manner inconsistent with the integrity of the game is incorrect," the Dolphins said in a statement.

As for his allegations of discriminatory hiring practices, Flores shared a text message from Bill Belichick in which the New England Patriots head coach congratulated him on getting the head coaching position with the New York Giants, even though Flores hadn't yet interviewed with the team. Belichick appeared to have confused him with Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, who was ultimately hired.

Former #Dolphins HC Brian Flores is suing the NFL and the Giants alleging racism in their hiring process. Flores has texts from Bill Belichick congratulating him for getting the job — but Flores had yet to interview. The text was meant for Brian Daboll. https://t.co/gmPUw9gHIq pic.twitter.com/tyTztTf3br

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) February 1, 2022

Both Flores and Daboll coached under Belichick in the past.

Flores called his interview with the Giants a "sham," saying in his lawsuit that the Giants only brought him in to satisfy the NFL's Rooney Rule, which requires that teams hold an in-person interview with an external candidate of color for any general manager or head coaching vacancy.

"We interviewed an impressive and diverse group of candidates," the team said in a statement. "The fact of the matter is, Brian Flores was in the conversation to be our head coach until the eleventh hour. Ultimately, we hired the individual we felt was most qualified to be our next head coach."

He also said that in a 2019 interview with the Denver Broncos, then-general manager John Elway and several other members of the organization showed up late to his interview and were hungover.

"Pages of detailed notes, analysis and evaluations from our interview demonstrate the depth of our conversation and sincere interest in Mr. Flores as a head coaching candidate," the Broncos said in a statement. "Our process was thorough and fair to determine the most qualified candidate for our head coaching position. The Broncos will vigorously defend the integrity and values of our organization—and its employees—from such baseless and disparaging claims."

Former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores made waves when he alleged team owner Stephen Ross offered him $100,000 for each loss during the 2019 season to improve draft positioning, and there is reportedly a witness who can back up the allegations.

Flores' accusation against Ross came as part of a larger lawsuit he filed Tuesday against the NFL and its teams alleging racist hiring practices and discrimination.

NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe reported Wednesday a witness said he heard Ross make such an offer to Flores. Wolfe's report also notes "Flores' team says it has evidence including messages from general manager Chris Grier that corroborate the allegations against Ross."

ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported the NFL plans on investigating the allegations against Ross.

Flores appeared on CBS Mornings on Wednesday and discussed the allegations against Ross.

"To attack the integrity of the game—that's what I felt was happening in that instance—I wouldn't stand for it," he said. "... I think it hurt my standing within the organization."

The 2019 campaign was Flores' first with the Dolphins, and "tanking" could have helped the team land Joe Burrow with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2020 NFL draft. That pick eventually went to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Miami appeared well on its way to landing the top pick when it started 0-7, but it played well down the stretch and finished with a 5-11 record. That resulted in the No. 5 pick, which the organization used on Tua Tagovailoa.

Burrow, who went No. 1, has led the Bengals to a Super Bowl appearance this season, and Chase Young, who went No. 2, was the 2020 Defensive Rookie of the Year for the Washington Football Team.

"We are aware of the lawsuit through the media reports that came out this afternoon," the Dolphins said in a statement. "We vehemently deny any allegations of racial discrimination and are proud of the diversity and inclusion throughout our organization. The implication that we acted in a manner inconsistent with the integrity of the game is incorrect. We will be withholding further comment on the lawsuit at this time."

After Flores' lawsuit was filed, former Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson seemed to imply he was also offered additional money to lose games.

He tweeted that owner Jimmy Haslam was "happy while we kept losing" and said "trust me it was a good number" when discussing potential payments:

Trust me it was a good number!

— Hue Jackson (@huejack10) February 2, 2022

As for Flores, he led the Dolphins to a 10-6 record in 2020 and 9-8 mark in 2021. It was the first time Miami recorded back-to-back winning seasons since the 2002 and 2003 campaigns, but he was still fired in January.

Former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores joined CBS Mornings on Wednesday to discuss his lawsuit against the NFL. 

Per the lawsuit, Flores is suing the league and all 32 teams because of racial discrimination in the hiring process for coaches. 

Flores included a series of text messages he received from New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick mistakenly congratulating him for being hired by the New York Giants even though he had yet to interview with the team as evidence:

Former #Dolphins HC Brian Flores is suing the NFL and the Giants alleging racism in their hiring process. Flores has texts from Bill Belichick congratulating him for getting the job — but Flores had yet to interview. The text was meant for Brian Daboll. https://t.co/gmPUw9gHIq pic.twitter.com/tyTztTf3br

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) February 1, 2022

Belichick says in one of the messages he "misread the text" and he thinks the Giants "are naming [Brian] Daboll" their new coach. 

On CBS, Flores said it has "been a tough 24 hours" since he filed the lawsuit. He described his emotions as "humiliation, disbelief, anger" upon learning the Giants weren't going to hire him before he even had a chance to speak with them. 

Flores interviewed with the Giants on Jan. 27. Daboll was officially announced as the team's new head coach one day later. 

The Giants issued a statement Tuesday in response to Flores' lawsuit:

A statement from the Giants on the Brian Flores lawsuit: pic.twitter.com/l4jgn6KVZM

— Ralph Vacchiano (@RalphVacchiano) February 1, 2022

The NFL also issued a statement about the lawsuit: 

"The NFL and our clubs are deeply committed to ensuring equitable employment practices and continue to make progress in providing equitable opportunities throughout our organizations. Diversity is core to everything we do, and there are few issues on which our clubs and our internal leadership team spend more time. We will defend against these claims, which are without merit.”

In the lawsuit, Flores said Dolphins owner Stephen Ross offered him a $100,000 incentive for each loss during the 2019 season to improve the team's draft position. 

"To attack the integrity of the game, I wouldn't stand for it. ... I think it hurt my standing within the organization," Flores told CBS. 

Flores was critical of the lack of minority coaching hires, saying he "didn't have to file a lawsuit for the world to know there's a problem."

In 2003, the NFL adopted the Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview at least one minority candidate for head coach and other senior football operations positions. 

As things stand, Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers is the only Black head coach in the NFL. Robert Saleh of the New York Jets and Ron Rivera of the Washington Football Team are the only other minority coaches in the league.

Tomlin, Flores and David Culley (Houston Texans) were the only Black head coaches in the NFL during the 2021 season. Flores and Culley were fired after the regular season. Culley was only with the Texans for one year. 

"I absolutely want to coach in this league," Flores told CBS about his future. "But I'm also not the only one with a story to tell. There are people who have come before and I know there are others who have similar stories. It's hard to speak out, and you're making some sacrifices. This is bigger than coaching."

A bombshell lawsuit accuses the NFL of racism in hiring coaches — and now the former coach who filed it is speaking out for the first time on #CBSMornings.

Brian Flores says, “It’s hard to speak out…but this is bigger than football. This is bigger than coaching.” pic.twitter.com/hI92p8rvEd

— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) February 2, 2022

Flores told Mike Greenberg on ESPN's Get Up he sent text messages to members of the New Orleans Saints and Houston Texans prior to filing the lawsuit to let them know it was coming out, but he still wanted to be a coach in the league. 

Per Jeff Duncan of the Times-Picayune, Flores interviewed with the Saints on Tuesday at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. 

Jenny Vrentas of the New York Times noted Flores is still among the candidates for the Texans' coaching vacancy. 

Per Matt Young of the Houston Chronicle, the Texans are bringing Flores back for a second interview. He previously met with the team on Jan. 14. 

Flores was hired as Dolphins head coach in 2019 after he spent 15 years with the Patriots organization, including 11 years as an assistant on Belichick's staff. 

The Dolphins went 24-25 in three seasons under Flores. They posted winning records in two consecutive years (2020, 2021) for the first time since 2002 and 2003. 

Despite finishing 9-8 and winning eight of his final nine games in 2021, Flores was fired by the Dolphins on Jan. 10. 

Former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores is suing the NFL and its 32 teams in a class-action lawsuit that alleges the league practices racist and discriminatory hiring practices for head coaches, coordinators and general managers.

His lawsuit contains many accusations in support of the central allegation, including that Dolphins owner Stephen Ross wanted Flores to recruit a "prominent quarterback in violation of League tampering rules" following the end of the 2019 season.

Per Joe Schad of the Palm Beach Post, that signal-caller is the recently retired seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady.

The 44-year-old quarterback isn't named in the lawsuit, but it does describe what Flores said happened with his former boss:

After the end of the 2019 season, Mr. Ross began to pressure Mr. Flores to recruit a prominent quarterback in violation of League tampering rules. Mr. Flores repeatedly refused to comply with these improper directives.

Undeterred, in the winter of 2020, Mr. Ross invited Mr. Flores onto a yacht for lunch. Shortly after he arrived, Mr. Ross told Mr. Flores that the prominent quarterback was 'conveniently' arriving at the marina.

Obviously, Mr. Ross had attempted to 'set up' a purportedly impromptu meeting between Mr. Flores and the prominent quarterback. Mr. Flores refused the meeting and left the yacht immediately. After the incident, Mr. Flores was treated with disdain and held out as someone who was noncompliant and difficult to work with."

Schad provided more background:

Brian Flores admires and respects Tom Brady but didn’t want to tamper and also didn’t think it was the right time to recruit Brady considering the status of the Dolphins’ rebuild, which was intended to be a long-term plan, per source.

— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) February 1, 2022

In 2020, teams were allowed to speak with free agents beginning on March 16 at noon ET.

Although Brady's 2019 season with the Pats ended on Jan. 4, 2020 with an AFC Wild Card loss to the Tennessee Titans, he and his agent were not allowed to negotiate with teams (nor could any teams reach out to him) until the legal tampering period began.

The Dolphins were in the market for a quarterback during the 2020 offseason, and Brady was the position's hottest free agent.

He eventually chose the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, winning a Super Bowl in his first season before closing his NFL career with a loss to the eventual NFC champion Los Angeles Rams in the Divisional Round this year.

Miami ended up selecting Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft.

Flores laid out more allegations against Ross in the lawsuit, saying that the Dolphins owner offered him $100,000 for every loss during the 2019 season so the team could get better draft picks.

Flores also said that Dolphins general manager Chris Grier told him the owner was "mad" and that the team's success was "compromising [the team’s] draft position."

Miami started 0-7 in 2019 but finished 5-4 in its last nine games for a 5-11 record overall.

The Dolphins fired Flores in January after three seasons. Flores never led Miami to the playoffs, but the Dolphins posted winning records each of the last two years (10-6 in 2020 and 9-8 in 2021). Miami hadn't had winning records in back-to-back years since 2002 and 2003.

After the season, rumors of discontent between Flores and team brass circulated, with Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reporting on Good Morning Football  "this was always going to be, one way or the other, it was going to be Flores or [Grier]":

From @GMFB: The #Dolphins fired coach Brian Flores, while they are keeping GM Chris Grier. pic.twitter.com/iS3KosqSbX

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 10, 2022

Flores, who played linebacker at Boston College from 1999-2002, served on the New England Patriots' scouting staff from 2004-07 before joining Bill Belichick's coaching staff in 2008. He remained there until 2018 and took the Dolphins' job in 2019.

Former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores has filed suit against the NFL and its teams, including his former employer, alleging the league "remains rife with racism, particularly when it comes to the hiring and retention of Black Head Coaches, Coordinators and General Managers."

In the suit, Flores' representatives said the seeds of his firing this offseason were laid in his first year with the team in 2019 when team owner Stephen Ross offered him $100,000 for each of the Dolphins' losses as they embarked on a total rebuild. Miami wound up finishing 5-11, and Flores said he was told by general manager Chris Grier that Ross was "mad" at the Dolphins' success because it was "compromising [the team’s] draft position."

The suit also includes allegations about Ross' push for the franchise to land an unnamed "prominent quarterback" in contravention of NFL rules:

After the end of the 2019 season, Mr. Ross began to pressure Mr. Flores to recruit a prominent quarterback in violation of League tampering rules. Mr. Flores repeatedly refused to comply with these improper directives. Undeterred, in the winter of 2020, Mr. Ross invited Mr. Flores onto a yacht for lunch. Shortly after he arrived, Mr. Ross told Mr. Flores that the prominent quarterback was 'conveniently' arriving at the marina. Obviously, Mr. Ross had attempted to “set up” a purportedly impromptu meeting between Mr. Flores and the prominent quarterback. Mr. Flores refused the meeting and left the yacht immediately. After the incident, Mr. Flores was treated with disdain and held out as someone who was noncompliant and difficult to work with.

Joe Schad of the Palm Beach Post said Tom Brady was the quarterback in question. Brady ultimately signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that offseason, while Miami selected Tua Tagovailoa with the fifth overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft.

Flores' grievances aren't limited to the Dolphins.

The 40-year-old alleges the New York Giants knew they were going to hire Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll before they held a formal interview with him. He claims the interview was merely a pretext so that the Giants were satisfying the NFL's Rooney Rule.

Flores included texts purportedly from New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick before the scheduled interview in which Belichick mistakenly congratulated him for getting the Giants job. Belichick said he meant to send the message to Daboll:

Texts from Bill Belichick to Brian Flores, congratulating Brian for landing the #Giants job.

Belichick thought he was texting Brian Daboll. He was texting Flores by mistake. pic.twitter.com/Y686XcjYC3

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) February 1, 2022

The Giants issued a statement saying they "are pleased and confident with the process that resulted in the hiring of Brian Daboll."

#Giants statement in response to allegations made by Brian Flores in lawsuit filed today pic.twitter.com/GP0dRb72Bo

— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) February 1, 2022

Flores also alleges he had a "sham interview" with the Denver Broncos in 2019. His representatives said in the suit that John Elway, then the Broncos general manager, and team CEO Joe Ellis arrived an hour late and "looked completely disheveled." As with the Giants, Flores contends the interview was only done so that Denver complied with the Rooney Rule.

For years, followers of the NFL have expressed concerns about the lack of diversity among the league's coaching and front office ranks. Heading into the 2022 season, Mike Tomlin is the only Black head coach.

Over time, the NFL has attempted to address the problem by first implementing the Rooney Rule and then tweaking its requirements. Still, critics have questioned whether the rule is a sufficient solution.

Flores' lawsuit is bound to bring this conversation to the fore again.