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Former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores and two other
coaches in February sued the league and its 32 teams, alleging
that teams have conducted "sham interviews" with Black
candidates to satisfy a policy requiring that minorities be
considered, and that Black coaches are paid less than their
white counterparts.
The NFL has denied the claims and said its teams were committed
to ensuring fair employment practices. In its filing in
Manhattan federal court, the league asked District Judge Valerie
Caproni to order that the case be sent to arbitration in line
with the coaches' employment contracts and NFL bylaws.
"The arbitration provisions in Mr. Flores's employment agreement
... clearly cover his claims against the Dolphins," lawyers for
the NFL wrote.
David Gottlieb, a lawyer for Flores, said the case should not be
sent to arbitration because the designated mediator, league
commissioner Roger Goodell, was biased in favor of the teams,
which employ him.
"We continue to be disappointed by the NFL's insistence that
this case be moved behind closed doors and outside the public
view," Gottlieb said.
Flores has said that the process needs to be "in the open" to
spur change.
Loretta Lynch, a former U.S. attorney general now representing
the NFL, has said that the league considers its arbitration
process "neutral."
Flores and the other coaches have one month to respond to the
league's motion. The NFL will then have until August 5 to make
additional arguments before Caproni decides on whether to send
the case to arbitration.
(This story corrects first paragraph to note that court papers
were filed late on Tuesday, not late on Monday)
(Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Mark Porter)
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