Cowboys’ Jerry Jones responds to Brian Flores lawsuit, admits NFL ‘could do better’

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has publicly acknowledged the NFL and its teams could do a better job recruiting more diverse candidates.

Jones’ comment – made Wednesday as he attended a Senior Bowl practice in Mobile, Ala. – was brought in response to former Dolphins coach Brian Flores’ class action lawsuit against the federation. The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of New York, alleges the NFL knowingly engaged in discriminatory recruiting practices, specifically for head coach, coordinator and executive positions.

The lawsuit also alleges the teams conduct fake interviews solely to follow the league’s Rooney Rule, which requires at least two outside minority hires for head coach positions, which coordinator and operator.

THAN: Brian Flores’ lawsuit explained: Former Dolphins coach sues NFL, teams for discriminatory recruiting practices

Jones said on Wednesday (via USA Today). “This area has some good attention. This is clearly visible if you take a look at that the league and the coaches are trying to improve there. “

Flores in his suit claims to have received “fake” interviews with the Broncos in 2019 and again with the Giants in 2021. Specifically, he claims Patriots coach Bill Belichick texted him – apparently thinking he was talking to Bills coordinator Brian Daboll – to congratulate him on getting the Giants job. Flores has yet to give an interview for this position.

Jones declined to speak directly about Flores’ allegations against other teams, but said that as the Cowboys owner and general manager, he’s aware of the dialogue around diversity recruiting. more in the tournament.

“I think the fact that it’s an issue doesn’t just show the league’s willingness to tackle and do better,” Jones said. “I think the fact that people are discussing how the Rooney Rule or what drives the Rooney Rule could have been better. In the case where coach Flores complained, he said it could be. better and processes that produce positive results for the league.”

The NFL, however, has vehemently denied Flores’ claims, which it considers “null and void.”

“The NFL and our clubs are deeply committed to ensuring equal practices and continuing to make progress in providing equal opportunities within our organisations. Diversity. are core to everything we do and there are some issues that our clubs and internal leadership team spend more time on We will defend against these claims, without valuable. “

THAN: What is the Rooney Rule? Explains the NFL’s mandate to interview minority candidates, its effectiveness, and criticism

The NFL has three black head coaches for the 2021 season: Flores, David Culley of the Texans, and Mike Tomlin of the Steelers. After the end of the season, both Flores and Culley were fired, making Tomlin the only black NFL coach. The NFL had two active black coaches in 2003, the season in which the League implemented the Rooney Rule.

The only other positive minority coaches are Ron Rivera of the Commander and Robert Saleh of the Jets.

By contrast, about 70% of NFL players are black. But there are only two minority owners, both of whom are not black. Only six of the league’s general managers are black.

THAN: Brian Flores lawsuit: Dolphin owner Stephen Ross says claims are ‘false, malicious and defamatory’

The Cowboys have never had a Black coach nor have a Black coordinator since defensive coordinator Brian Stewart (2007-08, under Wade Phillips). While Jones said the union has made more progress in recruiting more diversity, he acknowledges the standard for that will increase over time.

“We are an alliance of many boxes, of all kinds, in many fields,” says Jones. “I never dreamed that we could check as many boxes as we could. But the more we become substantive – and we become a lot more substantive as a league and as a sport.” ever when I joined 30 years ago – and we’re more fit and healthier than we were 10 years ago.The more that happens, the more boxes we’ll have that we need to check.