Brian Flores: Former Miami Dolphins coach sues NFL & teams in racism claim

Former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores is suing the NFL, the New York Giants and every other NFL franchise alleging racial discrimination in hiring practices.

Flores, who was passed over for a job with the Giants last week, said the league and its owners ran their operation «like a plantation».

He has filed a class action lawsuit in the US courts.

The league and teams have denied the racism claims.

The suit, filed on the first day of Black History Month in the US, begins with an errant text message said to be from New England coach Bill Belichick congratulating who he thought was Brian Daboll on getting the Giants job.

However, it was Flores he was texting with, three days before Flores interviewed with the team.

In addition to the NFL and Giants, the Dolphins and Denver Broncos are named as defendants along with 'John Doe Teams 1-29', meaning every other NFL franchise.

The lawsuit says: «In certain critical ways, the NFL is racially segregated and is managed much like a plantation.

»Its 32 owners — none of whom are black — profit substantially from the labour of NFL players, 70% of whom are black."

Flores alleges he was fired after rejecting an offer from Dolphins owner Stephen Ross for $100,000 for every defeat late in the season which would have improved the club's position in the off-season entry draft.

He also says he refused to violate the league's tampering rules when owner Ross arranged a meeting between Flores and a «prominent quarterback».

«After the incident, Mr Flores was treated with disdain and held out as someone who was non-compliant and difficult to work with,» the suit reads.

«From that point forward, Mr Flores was ostracised and ultimately he was fired.»

Flores, 40, finished with a 24-25 record over three seasons