(West Palm Beach) Mike Tomlin didn’t hire Brian Flores as an assistant coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers out of sympathy for the former Miami Dolphins head coach.
Posted at 3:10 p.m.
Tomlin, who like Flores is African American, did so because Flores is “a good coach.” Flores’ lawsuit against the NFL and three teams — the Dolphins, Giants and Broncos — over racist hiring practices has in no way deterred the longtime Steelers coach, Tomlin said Monday. at an NFL owners meeting.
A member of the league’s powerful competition committee and one of the sport’s most influential coaches, Tomlin has spoken with authority about the lack of minority head coaches in the NFL. He, Lovie Smith of the Houston Texans, Mike McDaniel of the biracial Miami Dolphins, Robert Saleh of the New York Jets and Ron Rivera of the Washington Commanders are the five minority head coaches among the 32 teams . About 70% of players are black.
“I haven’t been involved in any discussions and no, I don’t have a level of confidence that would make me believe things are going to get better,” Tomlin said. I’m more of a guy who insists on getting things done than one who sits down and talks things out.
“I think we started the discussion and the subject and we did a lot of good things,” Tomlin said of the Rooney rule passed in 2003 to improve job opportunities for minorities. But we must act accordingly. We need to hire competent candidates. »
And in Tomlin’s opinion and actions, that includes Flores, whose lawsuit has been a big talking point this offseason. The Dolphins fired Flores as he helped turn around a struggling team during his three seasons as coach, going 19-14 over the past two years.
Flores cites a series of text messages with New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick three days before his scheduled interview with the Giants for the head coaching job. These messages led Flores to believe that Brian Daboll had already been chosen as the new coach.
Belichick declined to comment on the lawsuit and any role he may have had. Giants owner John Mara clarified on Sunday that he doesn’t want a settlement with Flores and “I think the truth will come out.” The allegations are false. »
One topic that AFC coaches generally avoided was the contract the Cleveland Browns signed Deshaun Watson to after acquiring him in a trade from the Texans: a record-breaking, fully-guaranteed $230 million contract. It includes a $1 million base salary in the first season in the event he is suspended by the NFL under the Personal Conduct Policy.
Watson was not indicted by two Texas grand juries on criminal charges of sexual misconduct, but he faces 22 civil lawsuits. Historically, the league has imposed suspensions in such situations.
Smith, who takes over from David Culley in Houston, is relieved that the Watson issue — the quarterback didn’t play last season but was paid by the Texans — is behind the team.
“Deshaun’s absence is not good for the league,” Smith said, referring to Watson as one of the best players in the NFL. His transfer is a good thing.
“We want to talk about football here. Now we are able to do it. »
The NFL has also chosen Detroit to host the draft in 2024. The city was a finalist for the 2022 event, which will take place in Las Vegas after the 2020 event, originally planned in the gambling capital, was held virtually in due to the COVID-19 pandemic.