The Giants have responded to former Dolphins coach Brian Flores’ claim that the team interviewed him for no other reason than to satisfy the NFL’s Rooney Rule, which requires teams to interview minority candidates for their open positions.
The statement, which reads more like a counter-punch, also included an itinerary of Flores’ interview process that took place on Jan. 28, which was one day before the team hired former Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll.
MORE: Where Brian Flores stands in Texans, Saints coaching searches after filing lawsuit
“Brian Flores has raised serious issues in the filing of his complaint,” the statement reads. “The specific claims against the Giants and Mr. Flores' allegations about the legitimacy of his candidacy for our head coach position are disturbing and simply false.
“After we interviewed six exceptional and diverse candidates, the decision on who we would hire as head coach was made on the evening of January 28, one day after Mr. Flores spent an entire day in our offices going through his second interview for the position, meeting with ownership and other staff members, and receiving a tour of our facility. There is additional concrete and objective evidence to substantiate we did not make our decision until the evening of the 28th.”
MORE: NFL denies Bengals' plans to host Super Bowl watch party at Paul Brown Stadium
In his lawsuit filed on Feb. 1 against the NFL and Dolphins, Broncos and Giants, Flores contended New York’s decision was made before Jan. 28, given he received a text from Patriots coach Bill Belichick hours after his interview which indicated Daboll had won the job.
“The allegation that the Giants' decision had been made prior to Friday evening, January 28, is false. And to base that allegation on a text exchange with Bill Belichick in which he ultimately states that he "thinks" Brian Daboll would get the job is irresponsible."
The Giants also pointed out that the text exchange between Belichick and Flores occurred the day before Brian Daboll's in-person interview even took place and stated they wouldn't hire a coach based solely on a 20-minute video conference interview.
“In addition, Mr. Belichick does not speak for and has no affiliation with the Giants. Mr. Belichick's text exchange provides no insight into what actually transpired during our head coaching search,” the statement continues.
Unlike Flores’ claim that his interview with the Giants was a “sham,” the Giants claim their interest in Flores was “serious” and “genuine.”
MORE: NFL Mock Draft 2022: Giants land new QB for Brian Daboll; Chiefs, Raiders, Browns get in on WR run
The statement also lists other conversations had between Flores and the Giants, including Flores' in-person interview on January 27, a dinner with newly hired general manager, Joe Schoen, the night before Mr. Flores's in-person interview.
“...We are disappointed to learn that Mr. Flores was under the mistaken impression the job had already been awarded.”
The Giants were the latest team to issue a statement in response to Flores after Dolphins owner Stephen Ross and former Broncos general manager John Elway released responses on Thursday.