I hope they're good. Belichick has to be partially understanding that it is his texts that substantiate Flores' case the most, and as a result, he had to use them to show what he was speaking about. I really doubt Flores holds much frustration towards Bill, and it'd be kinda lame for Bill to get salty at someone else for his own hilariously bad blunder of a text mess-up.
These two will never speak again.
Flores from the NPR interview:
"The text messages from Bill Belichick confirmed a lot of things that I believed were going on for Blacks and minorities in the hiring process. Interviews that Blacks and minorities were going on, where we weren't getting a true opportunity in those interviews to showcase our abilities. To walk into an interview where a decision's already been made, that was the tipping point for me. That confirmation was something that I felt like I had to say something.
I do think that there are back channel conversations and back channel meetings that are had that oftentimes influence decisions. I think [the Giants hiring process] is a clear example of that. Here's Bill Belichick, his resume speaks for itself. He has influence. It was clear that that decision was made with his influence. That's part of the problem. That needs to change. There needs to be a fair and equal opportunity to interview and showcase your abilities to lead and earn one of those positions."
Flores is contending Belichick was involved in "back channel conversations" (i.e. not just providing a routine reference) that influenced NYG's decision before he (Flores) had a fair and equal opportunity to present his case for the HC position and complete the interview process.
Flores is holding Belichick accountable for more than just a "texting blunder." Given that, and Belichick's inclination to hold a grunge (e.g. he hasn't spoken to Mangini in 15 years), this is not going to be a reconcilable situation.
That's not clear at all. The odd thing was mentioning Buffalo and I grant that was strange.
BB texted Flores at 2:20PM and congratulated him.
Flores texted right back and asked if he was sure it was Brian Flores or Brian Daboll.
2 hours and 21 minutes later BB texted back and said very clearly that he had double checked his infor and concluded that he had misinterpreted the texts that had led him to congratulate Flores. Sorry, they mean Daboll, when I though that they meant you.
People jumped to the conclusion that BB texted the wrong person because it fits into the old guy and technology stereotype, but I don't think the words in the text and timing agree with that interpretation. BB misinterpreted information and then texted who he intended to text. He then realized his mistake.
It's not odd at all that Belichick mentioned Buffalo because HE THOUGHT HE WAS TALKING TO BRIAN DABOLL. What's odd is your thinking Buffalo is telling Belichick that Brian Flores (unaffiliated with Buffalo) is getting hired by NYG.
Think about what you're suggesting... Belichick heard from Buffalo AND NYG that they (NYG) were hiring Brian. Just "Brian." Neither organization bothered with clarifying which Brian nor did Belichick think to ask which Brian but instead he assumed they were talking about Brian Flores. Seriously??
Then Belichick sends the congratulatory text to Brian Flores that Buffalo and NYG told him that he (Flores) was getting the job. Only after Flores asks Belichick "um like who do you think you're talking to?" does Belichick think to go back and reread the text(s) from apparently both organizations and discover they were both talking about the other Brian. Again, completely ridiculous.
The mistake Belichick made was texting the wrong Brian from his phone and he only realized it when Flores tipped him off. Belichick took 2.5 hours to reply to Flores because he was trying to come up with some bs excuse.
