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In the suit, filed Tuesday, Flores, 40, accused Ross, 81, of offering him $100,000 per loss during the 2019NFL seasonin hopes of improving their position for the annual draft. Flores also accused the team owner of asking him to violate the league’s tampering rules and recruit a “prominent quarterback” later that year.
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Ross added that he and the Dolphins “will cooperate fully” should the NFL investigate Flores' claims.
“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,” he said in the statement.
Flores was hired as the Dolphins' head coach in Feb. 2019. The Florida team finished 5-11 in his first year at the helm, and produced winning records in 2020 (10-6) and 2021 (9-8).
Flores was fired on Jan. 10, despite having two years left on his contract. Less than a month later, he officially filed suit against many of the league’s biggest teams and figures.
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On Wednesday’s episode of ESPN’sGet Up, Flores detailed his recollection of his alleged conversation with Ross aboutthrowing games in 2019during his first season with the Dolphins.
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“That was a conversation about not doing as much as we needed to do in order to win football games,” he told the hosts. “‘Take a flight, go on vacation, I’ll give you $100,000 per loss’ – those were his exact words,' " Flores alleged that Ross said.
“I deal in truth, I tell the players this, as well. I’m gonna give you good news, bad news – but it’s going to be honest,” he continued. “To disrespect the game like that, trust was lost, and there were certainly some strained relationships, and ultimately, I think that was my demise in Miami.”
“God has gifted me with a special talent to coach the game of football, but the need for change is bigger than my personal goals,” Flores said in a statement to PEOPLE after filing the lawsuit. “In making the decision to file the class action complaint today, I understand that I may be risking coaching the game that I love and that has done so much for my family and me.”
source: people.com
