Dolphins owner calls Flores' allegations 'false,' welcomes NFL investigation

Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross called allegations made by former head coach Brian Flores "false" in a statement released Wednesday and promised to cooperate with the NFL should it open an investigation.

Flores filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the NFL, New York Giants, Denver Broncos, and Dolphins over alleged racial discrimination in hiring practices. His lawsuit also claims that Ross tried to incentivize tanking by offering him $100,000 per loss in 2019 and that the owner pressured him to break tampering rules to recruit a quarterback in the 2020 offseason.

"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," Ross said in a statement, per ESPN. "I take great personal exception to these malicious attacks, and the truth must be known. His allegations are false, malicious, and defamatory.

"We understand there are media reports stating that the NFL intends to investigate his claims, and we will cooperate fully. I welcome that investigation, and 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."

The league intends to investigate Flores' claim that Miami incentivized him to lose games for a better draft slot, ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports. The Dolphins started the 2019 campaign - Flores' first year with the team - with an 0-7 record before winning five of their final nine games to finish with a 5-11 mark.

The Dolphins fired Flores earlier this offseason after a three-year tenure. The 40-year-old posted a 19-14 record over his final two seasons with the club.

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