What allegations have been brought against Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill?
Following the controversy involving Commanders owner, Daniel Snyder, the Cardinals owner is the latest high-profile executive in the NFL to be scrutinized.
If there is one thing that’s becoming increasingly clear, it’s that inappropriate behavior in professional sports will be rooted out and quite frankly, that’s the way it should be. To that end, the latest scenario sees the Cardinals owner falling under the microscope. As for what comes next, we can only wait and watch.
Cardinals’ Michael Bidwill set to be investigated for misconduct
According to reports, former Arizona Cardinals vice president, Terry McDonough, has filed an arbitration claim against team owner, Michael Bidwill, to NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, and it has to be said that the allegations sound quite similar to those that were brought against Washington Commanders owner, Daniel Snyder. Yet, it’s interesting to note that McDonough’s complaint actually mentioned another under-fire team owner by name, the NBA’s Robert Sarver who owns the Phoenix Suns, another Arizona based franchise. “Bidwill’s widespread workplace misconduct is significantly worse than the misbehavior of former crosstown Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver,”
What we know about the complaint against Michael Bidwill
Though there are a number of points raised in the complaint, perhaps the most poignant are those that pertain to Bidwill’s alleged cheating, discrimination and harassment. For the purpose of context, it’s important to understand that McDonough served as the Cardinals’ vice president of player personnel from 2014 to 2019. In the claim, he has alleged that potential opportunities for the advancement of his NFL career were undermined following his refusal to be complicit with Bidwill’s cheating. To that end, McDonough is reportedly seeking damages for emotional distress in addition to a breach of contract.
As for what happened next, McDonough has indicated that Bidwill retaliated against him by demoting him after he stood against proposed plan to circumvent former general manager Steve Keim’s 2018 suspension. Keim, if you were unaware was given a five-game suspension after he was found guilty of “extreme” driving under the influence. Further to that, McDonough also claimed that both he and then Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks were forced to communicate with Keim via the use of burner phones. Though he apparently voiced his unwillingness to cooperate, McDonough claims that he was verbally reprimanded before being officially charged with “insubordination” by Bidwill. It’s worth noting that McDonough has also claimed that he is still in possession of the phone which he says has proof of the aforementioned scandal. At the end of that fateful 2018 season the Cardinals stood on a dismal record of 3-13 and Wilks was fired. Incidentally, McDonough has also alleged that Bidwill sabotaged Wilks’ subsequent career path while continuing to “demote and harass” him.
What’s been said about the allegations against Michael Bidwill
In an extensive statement that was released on Tuesday, Cardinals’ external public relations adviser, Jim McCarthy, addressed McDonough’s claims and went on to indicate that another executive was to blame for the burner phone scheme before adding that Bidwill himself took “swift action” to stop the prohibited communication.
“We are reluctantly obliged to provide a public response along with broader context for some disappointing and irresponsible actions by Terry McDonough,” McCarthy said. “Claims he has made in an arbitration filing are wildly false, reckless, and an opportunistic ploy for financial gain.” As for McDonough’s motivation, it’s understood that he would like to see an end brought to Bidwill’s mistreatment of employees. In his filing, he claims that Bidwill “created an environment of fear for minority employees,” before going on to cite a specific situation involving a black employee, as well as another in which he berated two pregnant women who eventually ended up crying.
What have the Cardinals said about the allegations facing Michael Bidwill?
What’s interesting to note about the Cardinals stance, is that it only addresses one aspect of the allegations that have been brought against Bidwill, namely those concerning racism which they claim are untrue. Where general mistreatment of employees is concerned, however, the organization referred to the accusations as “subjective.”
“Our position was consistent with many efforts we’ve made to accommodate Terry during his time with the team, despite difficulties in his personal life and his often volatile demeanor toward colleagues,” the statement from McCarthy said. “That’s why we are saddened to see that Terry is now lashing out at our organization with disparagements and threats that are absurdly at odds with the facts. This unnecessary and vindictive action by Terry was intended to malign his co-workers, our owner Michael Bidwill, and our team with outlandish accusations.” As per league regulations, the Cardinals will now have 20 days to respond to McDonough’s claims.