Football
Related: About this forumThe NFL's image is sure taking a beating from the bombshell Brian Flores suit.
Flores has been on CBS and ESPN this morning that I've personally seen. The filing alleges that the NY Giants had already hired a coach before he had an interview with them.
The owner of the Miami Dolphins, it is alleged, offer him 100k a game to tank games so the team would get higher draft picks. He refused, and instead had two winning seasons in a row, which the team hadn't had in more than twenty years. He also beat Belicheck's Patriots twice this year on the way to winning eight straight games. He was fired after the season, which is why he's interviewing now.
Bill Belicheck's text message to him, an innocent mistake, congratulating him for getting the Giants job when he hadn't even had his interview yet. Turns out Belicheck meant to congratulate the Giants hiree, a white coach also name Brian. That is evidence of how the white owners claim to abide by the Rooney rule (guaranteed, legitimate interviews to give Black coaches chances to get hired). The text revelation shows that teams only give sham interviews to Black coaches.
And there's Denver Broncos interview of Flores. John Elway and four other Broncos execs showed up late and Elway was allegedly drunk. Needless to say Flores felt he didn't get a sincere interview. Of course he didn't get that job either.
It's a mess. The league is taking a huge black eye, and the Miami owner might lose his team over asking Flores to tank games. That goes to the whole integrity and fabric of the league as to whether the games are on the up and up.
orwell
(7,955 posts)...that the NFL is an old white man's billionaire club.
The Rooney Rule is just that, window dressing to hide the fact that the NFL power structure is like a plantation in the old south. The only ones who can police the owners are the other owners. That ain't gonna happen. Unless of course, you are the Oakland Raiders...
The funny thing is Art Rooney's Steelers are the only NFL team with an African American head coach. It seems that they walk the walk, not just talk the talk.
I'm not even surprised by the game rigging allegations. There is likely point shaving/ game rigging in pro sports. With all the money involved how could there not be?
Teams in the NBA (76'ers) and the NFL (Tank for Tua with the Miami Dolphins) openly now tank to get higher draft picks. What is to stop them from secretly betting on games when they know they are trying to lose?
RockRaven
(16,265 posts)Last edited Wed Feb 2, 2022, 08:12 PM - Edit history (1)
Hue Jackson being told to lose in Cleveland so the Browns could get the top pick.
Marvin Lewis knowing the Panthers already decided to hire John Fox before they conducted a sham interview with him.
Lots of coaches probably weighing the risks/benefits of contacting Flores's lawyer or retaining their own.
brush
(57,477 posts)Sham interviews. And there's the specter of teams tanking and the possibility of gambling on sure things because you know a win or loss is coming.
This is going to be huge.