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U.S.
District Court Judge Valerie Caproni used a football metaphor in ruling Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores discrimination suit against the National Football League and several teams should go to trial.
This case continues to linger at the starting block, Caprinos ruling says.
Or, to use a more fitting metaphor, this case continues to linger a the teams mill about in the players tunnels.
This latest rejection of the NFLs attempt to resolve Flores suit through internal arbitration instead of an open trial in court included sharp language aimed at the ongoing appeals.
Defendants seemingly-never-ending list of arguments why they should not have to litigate this case has run its course, the ruling states.
Instead of proceeding, discovery and motion practice..
have been further delayed so this Court can deal with these teams attempt to take yet another run at how to avoid district litigation and will, presumably, be delayed further while they pursue yet another appeal.
The ruling also took aim at the nature of the NFLs arbitration system, which is overseen by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
Arbitration overseen by the Commissioner is arbitration in name only, Capronis ruling states.
gov.uscourts.nysd.574213.302.0 Download Two other NFL assistant coaches Steve Wilks and Ray Horton are co-plaintiffs with Flores.
They are suing the NFL and names several teams (Miami, N.Y.
Giants, Denver, Houston, Tennessee and Arizona) in claiming racially-biased hiring practices and patterns of discrimination.
The Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals and Miami Dolphins filed this latest appeal.
Flores initially filed the suit in February 2022 after he was fired as head coach of the Miami Dolphins.
Appeals have now been denied twice in Circuit Court, twice in District Court and once by the Supreme Court.
This latest ruling by the U.S.
District Court in the Southern District of New York includes language clearly expressing this should be the final appeal by the NFL and the defendant teams: All of the claims against he Titans, Cardinals, and Dolphins and related claims against the NFL must now proceed in court.
Defendants appear to believe that, for unknown reasons, they are entitled to a do-over.
Defendants assert that they are not engaging in gamesmanship..
but the Court is skeptical.
Flores interviewed for head coaching vacancies in Baltimore and Pittsburgh during this offseason before signing a contract extension with the Vikings that brings him back for a fourth season as the Vikings defensive coordinator.
In Flores first three seasons leading Minnesotas defense (2023-25), the Vikings have limited opponents to 19.2 points per game (second-fewest league wide) and 317.1 yards per game, including 5.1 yards per play (fourth).
Last season, Flores defense allowed an average of 158.5 passing yards per game, second fewest in the NFL behind Buffalo (156.9).
The post NFL loses another, potentially final, appeal in Brian Flores discrimination suit first appeared on KSTP.com 5 Eyewitness News .