NFL WANTS FLORES CASE SENT TO ARBITRATOR
NFL lawyers are urging a New York judge to change her mind and agree to let racial discrimination claims against the league and its teams go to arbitration rather than trial.
In written arguments late Wednesday, the lawyers said Judge Valerie E. Caproni in Manhattan should reverse her recent decision finding that some claims by NFL coach Brian Flores can go to trial.
Flores, the new defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings, sued the league and three teams last year, saying the NFL was “rife with racism,” particularly in its hiring and promotion of Black coaches.
Caproni ruled on March 1 that discrimination claims by two other Black coaches, Steve Wilks and Ray Horton, must go to arbitration. She let claims Flores made against the Dolphins go to arbitration. Flores made some of his most sensational claims against the team that fired him early last year after he led the Dolphins to a 2425 record over three years.
Earlier this week, lawyers for the coaches asked her to reverse portions of that ruling allowing arbitration, saying that proceedings in which NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell would likely serve as the arbiter would set a dangerous precedent for businesses nationwide that will be motivated to emulate the NFL’s unfair arbitration practices.
In papers signed by attorney Loretta E. Lynch — a former U.S. attorney general — the NFL, the Broncos, the Texans and the Giants asked that the judge change her mind and force all of the claims made by Flores into arbitration.
Lock still a Seahawk
The Seahawks are bringing back the same quarterback combo from last season and addressed one of their needs on the offensive line.
Seattle reached agreement with quarterback Drew Lock and offensive lineman Evan Brown on one-year contracts on Thursday. Seattle GM John Schneider confirmed the agreements during his weekly radio show on KIRO-AM.
Lock’s return keeps continuity in Seattle’s quarterback room after the Seahawks signed Geno Smith to a new contract earlier this month. Lock was part of Seattle’s return in the trade that sent Russell Wilson to Denver last offseason. Lock was in competition with Smith for the starting job into training camp, but was never able to overtake Smith and earn a starting opportunity.
Schneider said Brown was being signed to be a center for the Seahawks, which will fill a need. Brown started 24 games over the past two seasons with Detroit at both center and guard.
Notable
Desmond Ridder’s status as the Falcons’ starting quarterback was confirmed by his new backup, Taylor Heinicke. Heinicke signed his two-year contract with the Falcons believed to be worth up to $20 million and then said his job will be to support Ridder, who started the final four games of the 2022 season as a rookie. When asked his mindset going into the 2023 season with Ridder as the returning starter, Heinicke said, “Try to be the best backup I can to him. Try to help him in any way I can.”
The 49ers signed cornerback Isaiah Oliver to a twoyear contract. Oliver was drafted by the Falcons in the second round in 2018. In five seasons with the Falcons, he has 195 tackles and 34 passes defensed.
The Patriots added some depth on the offensive line with the signing of tackle Calvin Anderson. The team also released veteran quarterback Brian Hoyer, ending his third stint in New England.
The Titans released outside linebacker Bud Dupree two years into a five-year contract, parting ways with the big free agent they acquired in 2021 to boost their pass rush, the team announced.