Former Cardinals executive Terry McDonough was awarded $3 million by an NFL arbitrator after the team issued a statement that McDonough abused his spouse and neglected his disabled daughter.
Following that decision, McDonough is suing the team, owner Michael Bidwill. lawyers and the crisis communications firm for defamation and other claims in Arizona state court.
McDonough was the team’s vice president of personnel and he was hurt and defamed in a statement issued last April accusing the executive of abuse and neglect. McDonough denied both of those accusations.
In a 62-page decision, arbitrator Jeffrey Mishkin found the statements made by the Cardinals under the guidance of Counterpoint Strategies were “false and defamatory.” Mishkin dismissed McDonough’s other claims in his arbitration complaint to the NFL.
“Each of the defendants brought ruin to the McDonough family name for no purpose other than to divert attention from the fact Bidwill terminated Terry for refusing Bidwill’s order to use burner phones to get around the suspensions of the team’s general manager,” attorney Mike Caspino said in a statement first obtained by ESPN.
Cardinals face additional issues once the matter goes to court
The $3 million arbitration judgement from the NFL may be just the start of the legal problems facing the Cardinals in this dispute. Caspino pointed out that when the issue goes to trial in the court, the team will no longer have any kind of protection from the league itself.
“We look forward to presenting our case to a jury, where Bidwill and the Cardinals will no longer enjoy the protection of the NFL’s rigged arbitration system.”
Bidwill, 59, has been the team’s principal owners since his father Bill Bidwill died in 2019. The team has been scrutinized quite a bit for its workplace culture and the team did not receive positive grades or remarks in the annual NFL Players Association report cards that are issue for each franchise.
McDonough had worked his way up in the Arizona hierarchy after he was originally hired in 2013 as as a scout. After moving to the position of vice president of player personnel, he was secure until general manager Monti Ossenfort advised him to look for a new job.
The arbitrator’s ruling and the lawsuit filed on McDonough’s behalf could have an impact on the organization as it prepares for the 2024 NFL Draft. The Cardinals have the No. 4 pick in the first round, and it has seemed fairly clear that they would be open to moving that pick to a member club that is interested in moving up.
“There will be a big neon sign that says ‘open’ and I don’t like it blinking, it messes with my eyes, but we’re always going to be listening,” Ossenfort said
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