Cardinals Owner Michael Bidwill Accused of Cheating, Discrimination and Harassment
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PHOENIX -- ESPN is reporting Arizona Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill is being accused of gross misconduct, including cheating, discrimination and harassment, in an arbitration claim filed Tuesday by former Cardinals executive Terry McDonough to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
McDonough - who has spent over 30 years in the NFL which included a decade in Arizona - alleges that Bidwill forced he and then-head coach Steve Wilks to use burner phones to communicate with general manager Steve Keim, who was serving a suspension for his extreme DUI at the time.
In a response to ESPN, Jim McCarthy (Cardinals external PR advisor) said the following:
"We are reluctantly obliged to provide a public response along with broader context for some disappointing and irresponsible actions by Terry McDonough. Claims he has made in an arbitration filing are wildly false, reckless, and an opportunistic ploy for financial gain.
"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."
In the arbitration claim - which was confirmed to have been received by the NFL - McDonough says his refusal to cooperate with Bidwill's plan ultimately prevented him from other opportunities across the league.
"In response to McDonough's objection to the illicit burner phone scheme, Bidwill cursed at, berated, and formally reprimanded McDonough, and ultimately demoted him -- irrevocably damaging the trajectory of McDonough's 34-year career in the National Football League. Bidwill also subjected McDonough to bullying, mocking, harassing and abusive behavior," read the filing.
He was written up for insubordination by Bidwill after refusing to comply.
The grievance also stated that Bidwill mistreated a black employee and multiple pregnant women.
"Many of the employees who responded to the survey indicated that they were fearful of Bidwill on a daily basis, as a result of Bidwill's erratic and often abusive interactions with them," read the filing.
McDonough also said Bidwill's "widespread workplace misconduct is significantly worse than the misbehavior of former crosstown Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver."
McDonough's attorney - Mike Caspino - had strong words in response to the Cardinals:
"Unfortunately, it appears that the Cardinals will defend this case through dishonest character assassination," McDonough's attorney Mike Caspino said in response to the Cardinals. "I look forward to arbitrating this case, and for the truth to come out."
Again -full the full report from ESPN - click here.
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