Fired Dolphins coach Flores won't drop NFL racism suit even if hired by new team

Fired Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores has sued the NFL and three of the league's teams for alleged racist hiring practices for coaches and general managers and says he won't drop the suit even if he gets hired by another team.

"This is about changing the hiring practices in the National Football League, and that’s what this lawsuit is about," Flores said Wednesday on CNN. "I want to coach football that’s what I’m called to do."

Flores has interviewed with the Houston Texans and New Orleans Saints for their coaching vacancies. If they call, Flores said he will listen, but the suit will go on, according to the Associated Press.

Flores  filed the suit Tuesday, saying the National Football League remains "rife with racism" even as it publicly condemns it.

The lawsuit was filed in Manhattan federal court and alleges the Dolphins shunned him after he refused to accept a $100,000-a-game offer from the club his first season to "tank" so it could secure the top draft pick.

The lawsuit sought class-action status and unspecified damages from the league, the Dolphins, the Denver Broncos, the New York Giants and other unidentified individuals, the Associated Press also reports. 

Flores, 40, was fired last month by Miami after leading the Dolphins to a 24-25 record over three years. They went 9-8 in their second straight winning season, but failed to make the playoffs during his tenure.

"We vehemently deny any allegations of racial discrimination and are proud of the diversity and inclusion throughout our organization," the Dolphins said in response to the suit, in a statement obtained by the wire service. "The implication that we acted in a manner inconsistent with the integrity of the game is incorrect. We will be withholding further comment on the lawsuit at this time."

The league has publicly embraced the recent social justice movement with statements in support – stenciling onto field end zones the word "end racism" and allowing players to put such messages on helmets and their cleats.

Among the other numerous allegations in the suit is that when Flores refused the money to intentionally lose games and recruit a prominent quarterback in violation of the league's tampering rules he was portrayed as the “angry Black man” who is difficult to work with and was derided until he was fired.