Flores has won, even before his suit that rocked NFL is decided

Two months after filing the lawsuit that quaked the NFL, former Dolphins head coach

Brian Flores has already won.

He might never actually “win” the suit alleging systemic racism in the league’s hiring practices. Ironically, the claim might be seen as weakening with every subsequent minority hire — including his own by the Pittsburgh Steelers as senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach.

But there is an echo of the suit, a victory in it with every such hire even if

Flores never gets his day in court and the clear-cut verdict he wishes.

Flores’ biggest win was simply taking sports’ most important stand for racial equality since Colin Kaepernick knelt. For shining a spotlight, with all of its heat.

Of course the explosive subtext of his lawsuit were the damning allegations against Dolphins owner Stephen Ross currently under NFL investigation. One of them is lying. Both are doubling down. The outcome hovers big and malignant over an upcoming otherwise-promising Dolphins season.

The impact of what Flores dared do two months ago, symbolically on the first day of Black History Month, is worth exploring on both fronts.

The coach, fired by Miami despite an 8-1 finish to