Former Cardinals VP accuses owner of misconduct in new claims
Arizona's bad offseason took an ugly turn on Tuesday when former executive Terry McDonagh filed a complaint against owner Michael Bidwell with allegations of cheating, discrimination and harassment.
Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, McDonough alleges "that both he and former Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks were left no choice but to follow Bidwell's plan to use burner phones to communicate with former Arizona general manager Steve Keim" during the 2018 preseason when Keim was serving a suspension stemming from a DUI arrest.
As part of Keim's suspension, he wasn't supposed to have any contact with the team. McDonough claims he kept the phone which contains the incriminating evidence.
Another issue brought up in McDonough's filing includes an allegation "that Bidwell treated a Black employee and two pregnant women poorly and 'created an environment of fear for minority employees.'"
ESPN's Mina Kimes posted to Twitter with a reminder that McDonough's filing comes after the franchise's poor showing in the NFL Players Association team report card. When it came to the organization's treatment of families, it received an F.
The organization, through external public relations adviser Jim McCarthy, denied the allegations and wrote them off as McDonough lashing out at his former employer.
"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," McCarthy wrote.
The arbitration proceedings will determine how much validity there is to McDonough's claims, which could have a major impact on the organization.
In his filing, McDonough suggests, "Bidwell's widespread misconduct is significantly worse than the misbehavior of former crosstown Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver."
Details emerged in Nov. 2021 of Sarver's history of racist and misogynistic transgressions as Suns owner, leading to an NBA investigation that resulted in a $10 million fine and Sarver selling the team.
This is just the latest black eye for a team that's taken its licks over the last year. Former offensive line coach and run game coordinator Sean Kugler was fired while the team was in Mexico City after he allegedly groped a woman. Kugler denied the allegations.
In May 2022, former running backs coach James Saxon was charged with domestic battery after assaulting a woman but was kept on staff until his arrest became public in August. He was later handed a suspended one-year prison sentence and one year of probation.
When it comes to on-field concerns, the outlook is just as bleak. Per Oddschecker, Arizona (+20000) is tied with Houston for the worst odds of winning Super Bowl LVIII and the team hasn't made many significant moves in free agency to fill its many holes.
Depending on how this situation plays out, it might be the biggest hole at the very top of the organization.
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