NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Saturday despatched a memo to groups saying the league will look to enhance its "efforts to advertise range," saying that the observe document for hiring minority coaches to date has been "unacceptable." Goodell additionally introduced an unbiased investigation into allegations of tanking introduced up in former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores' lawsuit in opposition to the league and three groups.
"We'll reevaluate and study all insurance policies, pointers and initiatives regarding range, fairness and inclusion, together with as they relate to gender," Goodell's memo learn. "We're retaining outdoors specialists to help on this evaluation and also will solicit enter from present and former gamers and coaches, advocates and different authorities on this space."
The memo comes 4 days after Flores, who's Black, filed a category motion lawsuit in opposition to the NFL, Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos and New York Giants alleging racist hiring practices all through the league.
"We did not must file a lawsuit for the world to know that there is a drawback from a hiring standpoint with reference to minority coaches within the Nationwide Soccer League. The numbers converse for themselves," Flores informed "CBS This Morning" on Wednesday. "We filed the lawsuit in order that we might create some change. And that is essential to me. I feel we're at a fork within the street. We're both going to maintain it the way in which it's or go in one other path and truly make some actual change in the place we are literally altering the hearts and minds of those that make selections to rent head coaches, executives, and many others."
Flores was fired by the Dolphins on the finish of the 2021 common season, regardless of main the crew to back-to-back profitable seasons for the primary time since 2003 and having two years left on his contract. Flores was scheduled to interview for the vacant Giants teaching job however, in accordance with the lawsuit, the crew had already chosen Brian Daboll to fill the position earlier than talking with Flores.
The lawsuit stated this was typical of how groups within the NFL abuse the Rooney Rule, which requires groups to interview no less than one minority candidate for head teaching jobs and varied different positions all through the league.
"The assertion made right this moment by the Commissioner is, on the floor, a optimistic first step, however we suspect that that is extra of a public relations ploy than actual dedication to alter," Flores' attorneys stated Saturday in a press release.
Goodell additionally introduced Saturday that there will likely be an unbiased investigation into claims "regarding the integrity of NFL video games."
Flores claims in his lawsuit that Dolphins proprietor Stephen Ross provided to pay him $100,000 for each sport the crew misplaced throughout the coach's first season in an effort to enhance its draft place.
Ross on Thursday known as the allegations "false, malicious and defamatory," including that the crew would cooperate with any investigation into Flores' claims of tanking.