A day after Brian Flores filed a lawsuit that, among other allegations, said Dolphins owner Stephen Ross offered $100K for each Dolphins loss in 2019, the NFL will investigate the matter, according to Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com.
Considering the seriousness of Flores’ allegation, the league taking action so soon does not surprise. The NFL’s investigation does not yet have a timetable, per the Washington Post’s Mark Maske, but this matter will not be going away anytime soon. The league will also investigate other rules violations, per Mortensen. The Dolphins have denied Flores’ allegation.
Flores said Ross offered those payments to boost the Dolphins’ prospects of securing top draft position in 2020. When Flores went 5-11, GM Chris Grier allegedly communicated to the since-fired Miami HC that Ross was unhappy the team slid to the No. 5 overall position in the 2020 draft. Instead of the rebuilding team picking first in 2020, which would have placed Miami in position to draft Joe Burrow, the Dolphins selected Tua Tagovailoa at No. 5. Despite Tagovailoa being a Dolphins target for several months, Burrow’s record-breaking 2019 season prompted the team to shift course. The Dolphins were unable to turn their three first-round selections into that year’s No. 1 pick, with the Bengals selecting Burrow first overall.
This investigation will obviously generate interest, as the Dolphins were committed to a full-scale rebuild in 2019. Gutting the team to produce losses and payments coming as a result of those defeats are certainly different matters. Ross would stand to face significant punishment if the latter can be proved. Interestingly, NFL.com’s Cameron Wolfe notes a Dolphins source was aware of Ross offering the bonus payments for every 2019 loss.
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