Hub Arkush: Brian Flores’ lawsuit against the NFL is the story everyone is talking about

While legitimate media, all sports TV and radio platforms and social media have tripped all over themselves trying to get in front of the story of Brian Flores’ lawsuit against the NFL, Miami Dolphins, New York Giants and Denver Broncos, I chose to apply at least the 24-hour rule and gather more information to get a better understanding of all that is in play before forming any opinions.

Those other shoes began dropping Wednesday and Thursday and landed as loudly as Flores’ suit did.

“With regards to the allegations being made by Brian Flores, I am a man of honor and integrity and cannot let them stand without responding,” Dolphins owner Stephen Ross said.

“I take great personal exception to these malicious attacks, and the truth must be known. His allegations are false, malicious and defamatory. I am eager to defend my personal integrity, and the integrity and values of the entire Miami Dolphins organization, from these baseless, unfair and disparaging claims.”

Broncos team president John Elway issued a statement that included, “While I was not planning to respond publicly to the false and defamatory claims by Brian Flores, I could not be silent any longer with my character, integrity and professionalism being attacked.

“It’s unfortunate and shocking to learn for the first time this week that Brian felt differently about our interview with him.”

The Giants have stated simply they are completely confident in their interview process and Flores was in fact a serious candidate until the 11th hour, and the league office has kept it short so far, stating simply that Flores’ claims are “baseless and without merit.”

Is anyone lying here and anyone telling the truth?

I have no idea. This is going to take on a larger-than-life story of its own, and reasonable people have to be patient and wait for more information.

The next big turning point will be whether this suit has been granted class-action status and we see who and how many join the suit, and how much additional evidence they bring.

Personally, however, I think focusing on that is looking 180 degrees in the wrong direction.

The real value of the lawsuit is the incredibly bright light it will shine on the NFL’s woefully weak efforts –and at this point disgusting failures – in making top management and coaching jobs equally available to minorities as they are to Caucasians.

That is not a debatable point.

I don’t believe the majority of NFL owners have a racist bone in their bodies, but I’ll never be able to prove it or even make that argument until they do something about a badly broken 100-year-old system that punishes minorities in their attempts to achieve equity in the workplace.

Honestly, I don’t know yet what to make of Flores.

The truth is the lawsuit feels like an 80- or 90-yard field-goal attempt.

How do you prove what’s in another man or woman’s heart and mind when they claim otherwise?

As terribly disturbing as his claims are that he was asked to tank games and tamper with quarterbacks, even if it turns out there is truth to them, how do they connect to race or racism?

I do know it is fair to call him heroic for taking on this fight that is certain to come at great personal cost to him for the foreseeable future, if not permanently.

I don’t know if the lawsuit was the best vehicle. What minority candidates desperately need is for the system to be fixed, not find someone to punish.

But a blow desperately needed to be struck to force the 32 NFL owners to get serious about fixing a systemic bias that has survived for far too long and punished far too many, and to acknowledge that the “Rooney Rule” is barely a starting point, let alone an answer.

Regardless of how true or false the owners’ lip service over their concern for the problem has been, it couldn’t be any clearer something much greater has to be done.

If this lawsuit is the catalyst for that, then regardless of Flores’ lawsuit’s merit, he will have done the right thing and will be deservingly honored for his effort.

• Hub Arkush is a Shaw Media correspondent.