Both of my parents were baseball fanatics. Knew the game inside and out. My mother was a baseball historian….and, she counted Curt Flood as important to baseball as Jackie Robinson. My mother believed that every current baseball player should put 1% of their salary into a fund that would go to Flood’s descendents. Without him, the financial independence they now enjoy would not be possible.

So, when I see credible people compare Brian Flores’s lawsuit to Curt Flood, I have to sit up and pay attention.

Brian Flores, who was fired as head coach of the Miami Dolphins, is suing the NFL and the New York Giants, alleging racism in hiring.

Black coaches have long faced double standards and unrealistic expectations in the NFL, @jemelehill wrote recently: https://t.co/2kHi4pZtsQ

— The Atlantic (@TheAtlantic) February 2, 2022

Brian Flores was the most accomplished & experienced NFL coaching candidate in this hiring cycle. He was coming off consecutive winning seasons, a seemingly unjust firing & here come the Giants, viewing him as a Rooney rule quota-filler to check off. He has a right to be hostile.

— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) February 2, 2022

The sports legacy media sees the importance of this story already. We're in Curt Flood territory. https://t.co/rN46BGfZat

— What is MAGA, if not Jim Crow persevering? (@gniluapnawak) February 1, 2022

The NFL seems to have underestimated the level of receipts that he is bringing to the table.

Just a reminder that some so-called progressives called Obama a “movement killer” because he advised athletes and coaches (mostly basketball players) to work within the system to change it. Had Brian Flores gave up instead of documenting his experiences where would we be?

— Rugged Amethyst #TexasBorn #CaliBred (@groove_sdc) February 3, 2022

Former Cleveland Browns coach Hue Jackson has joined fired Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores in alleging that he was paid more if his team lost games https://t.co/9nsnq6VFKW

— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) February 2, 2022

Brian Flores may end up doing for future black coaches what Curt Flood did for MLB players with free agency.

And like Flood may have sacrificed his career. https://t.co/9gVNSmAGe5

— Down And Out Bad In DFW (@Kennymack1971) February 1, 2022

Reminder: The Rooney Rule was not created out of a sudden desire to level the playing field… it was the NFL's response to the legitimate threat of a Johnnie Cochran-led class action lawsuit.

— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) February 3, 2022

Remember when people were trying to portray Flores as being unable to get along with others in the organization?
I said then: always be careful when stuff like that is said about Black coaches.

— mike freeman (@mikefreemanNFL) February 1, 2022

But back to my original point.

Why is the Rooney Rule in place?

Why did white people have to be FORCED to diversify their job searches?

Are you really saying that the only qualified candidates for jobs are white?

I'll wait. pic.twitter.com/qGEW8PvY5S

— Down And Out Bad In DFW (@Kennymack1971) February 2, 2022

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell just sent this memo to clubs, saying the league is retaining outside experts to help reevaluate its DEI policies and matters regarding integrity of the game will be “reviewed thoroughly and independently” in light of allegations from Brian Flores. pic.twitter.com/VUK2dm0MMe

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 5, 2022