CARDINALS The Arizona Cardinals Thread

[Merlin]

If Bidwill has been cheating he's more of a failure than I thought.

 

[Merlin]

Also and btw if I'm an owner there is no way I'd ever hire a HC candidate who sues a team or the league because he was not hired. His ass would be blackballed. No pun intended.

Wilkes probably was fired in part due to Keim's incompetence. But I am tired of weak ass people who cannot take ownership of their own failures. Learn from what happened dust yourself off and get back in the fight dude. Jumping in with that lawsuit is some BS IMO. Probably half the coaches fired in the history of this league paid for the incompetence of GMs or owners above them.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

I’m glad that I am not a Cards fan. Now that Daniel Snyder is on his way out that leaves Bidwell and Irsay fighting for the crown of worst NFL owner.

 

[oldnotdead]

Regardless, one thing isn't disputed IMO is that Bidwell is an ass of epic proportions. You treat enough people like shit sooner or later you are going to run into someone who is as big of a jackass as yourself. I'm only surprised it hasn't happened sooner. This franchise is a dumpster fire that won't burn out. Everyone critical of the Ram's FO and ownership only need to look as far as Cleveland and AZ. Thank god for Kroenke, Demoff, Snead and McVay, and I say again, as long as they are together this team will never be out of contention for very long. It took a while but they finally got it right.

 

[Allen2McVay]

I’m glad that I am not a Cards fan. Now that Daniel Snyder is on his way out that leaves Bidwell and Irsay fighting for the crown of worst NFL owner.

Ownership and front office are SO vitally important. The Frontiere, Shaw, Zygmunt years were mostly brutal.

I had zero confidence in their abilities but that was tempered by my opinion that they really didn't give a fuck.

 

[Loyal]

@Merlin be like...


View: https://twitter.com/ZoroRivera/status/1643446984802553858?s=20

 

[Merlin]

I’m glad that I am not a Cards fan. Now that Daniel Snyder is on his way out that leaves Bidwell and Irsay fighting for the crown of worst NFL owner.

Yeah and both those teams are sitting 3 and 4 in the draft with big decisions to make.

Should make for some fine early round 1 draft drama.

 

[CGI_Ram]

Ex-Cards exec accuses owner Bidwill of cheating

Former Cardinals vice president Terry McDonough is accusing team owner Michael Bidwill of gross misconduct, including cheating, discrimination and harassment, in an arbitration claim.

www.espn.com

Arizona Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill is 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 maintained that both he and former Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks were left no choice but to follow Bidwill's plan to use burner phones to communicate with former Arizona general manager Steve Keim while Keim was serving a five-week suspension after pleading guilty to extreme DUI in Arizona.

McDonough said he still has the phone, which he said contains the evidence of the cheating scandal, as well as additional documentation.

In a detailed response sent to ESPN, the Cardinals strongly denied the allegations, calling them "outlandish."

"We are reluctantly obliged to provide a public response along with broader context for some disappointing and irresponsible actions by Terry McDonough," external public relations adviser to the Cardinals Jim McCarthy said in a statement. "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 filing, McDonough said he and Wilks "objected to and sought to avoid participation in a scheme hatched by Bidwill to utilize burner phones to communicate with general manager Steve Keim -- in violation of the terms of Keim's suspension for extreme DUI -- during a critical period of the Cardinals training camp in the summer of 2018.

"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."

The filing said that the day after McDonough told Bidwill neither he nor Wilks wanted to communicate with Keim during the suspension, Bidwill summoned him to his office and wrote him up for "insubordination." McDonough also accused Bidwill of sabotaging Wilks' first opportunity as an NFL head coach before he fired him at the end of his one season on the job. McDonough said Bidwill has continued to "demote and harass" him since summer 2018.

The Cardinals told ESPN that another executive "had interfered with the protocol of that suspension" and that the team had taken "additional measures." It also said that Bidwill took "swift action" and directed that phones be retrieved and "communications stopped."

McDonough is the son of legendary Boston Globe reporter Will McDonough and brother of ESPN broadcaster Sean McDonough. He was the Cardinals vice president of player personnel from 2014 to 2019. In 2017, he was a finalist for the San Francisco 49ers' general manager position, along with John Lynch and George Paton, the current general managers of the 49ers and Denver Broncos.

In the claim, McDonough said that opportunities for advancement in the NFL evaporated after his refusal to go along with Bidwill. McDonough is seeking damages for breach of contract and emotional distress.

The Cardinals have 20 days to respond to McDonough's claims under the NFL's dispute resolution procedural guidelines. Then Goodell "shall determine whether the dispute is football-oriented ... or not football-oriented" and whether the dispute is subject to arbitration.

If it is, "the Commissioner will conduct the arbitration in a manner designed to reach a fair and prompt outcome, consistent with the circumstances of the particular dispute."

The NFL said Tuesday, "We can confirm receipt of the claim which will be handled under the league's arbitration procedures." Wilks declined to comment.


The Cardinals denied blocking McDonough's professional career, citing "praise to Mr. Bidwill, in particular for the extensive support and encouragement that Terry had received" and said that the team brass had "repeatedly encouraged and facilitated Terry's wish to continue his career advancement."

McDonough said he wants to prevent Bidwill from treating people the way he said he was treated and that he believes he is giving voice to a group of Cardinals' employees too scared to speak out against Bidwill. He called his treatment "consistent with a pattern of workplace misconduct by Bidwill that is endemic and the hallmark of his stewardship of the storied Cardinals franchise."

McDonough said in his filing that Bidwill had treated a Black employee and two pregnant women poorly and "created an environment of fear for minority employees." The filing did not include specifics on either alleged incident.

The Cardinals, citing a time when McDonough and Bidwill had met with free agent players, said that Bidwill had no racial animus and called McDonough's claim "a transparent smear that is truly beneath contempt."

"It must be stressed that our owner's long track record of fostering diversity and racial equity within our team and the League make this allegation especially despicable," the Cardinals said in their statement.

The grievance also said Bidwill reduced two pregnant women -- one five months pregnant, the other seven months -- to tears after screaming at them with "abusive and bullying mistreatment."

McDonough said he has proof that in 2019, the Cardinals' top brass decided to conduct an employee engagement survey with all their employees, only to see Bidwill intercept the results of the survey and cancel it.

"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," the filing said.

The Cardinals responded by saying that "the 2019 employee survey referenced in the complaint was not ignored but in fact formed the basis for significant enhancements to our workplace practices. That included creating a new role for a Chief People Officer along with boosting our Human Resources staff and adding robust employee wellness initiatives."

The grievance that McDonough submitted to Bidwill's attorney last week and Goodell on Tuesday alleged that "Bidwill's widespread workplace misconduct is significantly worse than the misbehavior of former crosstown Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver," whom the NBA suspended one year and fined $10 million before he ultimately sold the franchise.

Bidwill fired Wilks after the 2018 season, when the team finished 3-13. At the news conference to announce the firing of Wilks, Bidwill said, "I didn't get it right" while Keim said, "We're all held accountable."

The grievance said: "The passage of time and exposure of the facts have revealed those comments to be almost perverse in their inaccuracy, misguidedness, and gaslighting nature. Steve Wilks has demonstrated that he is a skilled NFL head coach when he is not forced to cheat and is given an opportunity to succeed. And contrary to Keim's statement, neither he nor Bidwill have ever been held to account for their illicit actions during the 2018 preseason."


The grievance said that Wilks recently joined the racial discrimination class action lawsuit brought by former head coach Brian Flores against the NFL and its teams, with Wilks alleging that he was hired by Bidwill only to serve as a "bridge coach" without being given the opportunity to succeed and that he was "the fall guy for failures that were largely attributable to Keim."

The Cardinals also outlined a number of incidents they say were in "violation of our guidelines and the mutual trust in our workplace." They say McDonough was insubordinate and had clashes with colleagues.

"If an arbitration process results, we will welcome the opportunity to set the record straight in that forum and demonstrate how these claims have absolutely no validity or hard basis."

"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."

I wonder if they get penalized?


View: https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1643329347162456066?s=20

 

[Riverumbbq]

Ugly accusations are piling up for Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill

The most recent claims of cheating only add to a series of negative headlines centered on Bidwill and his Cardinals. He's approaching Dan Snyder territory in the world of bad team owners.

www.yahoo.com

 

[CGI_Ram]

View: https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1645451234357264385?s=20

 

[So Ram]

Regardless, one thing isn't disputed IMO is that Bidwell is an ass of epic proportions. You treat enough people like shit sooner or later you are going to run into someone who is as big of a jackass as yourself. I'm only surprised it hasn't happened sooner. This franchise is a dumpster fire that won't burn out. Everyone critical of the Ram's FO and ownership only need to look as far as Cleveland and AZ. Thank god for Kroenke, Demoff, Snead and McVay, and I say again, as long as they are together this team will never be out of contention for very long. It took a while but they finally got it right.

Didn’t Warner like that Bung-hole? I there nit the dirty birds but the old St. Louis Cardinals from the NFC East.

Well- if you’re a True Rams Fan,you’d know that there is a jag owner. Is he average?They made the playoffs & hired a good HC;
Meyers & Fisher weren’t the best HC’s in the world.They won,but big EGO’s.
STAN KRONKE is like Kevin Costner.Let’s hope The Rams get the Draft right.Field of Dreams & Yellowstone all in one.
Waterworld is in a different category. Dancing with the wolfs is going to be on my watch list.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

View: https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1645451234357264385?s=20

Keim will trade it for three bottles of 18 year Scotch, or maybe a case of Mad Dog, whichever he prefers.

 

[So Ram]

Kingsbury joins USC staff as offensive analyst

Former Arizona Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury has joined USC's football staff as senior offensive analyst, head coach Lincoln Riley announced Tuesday.

es.pn

 

[den-the-coach]

Kingsbury joins USC staff as offensive analyst

Former Arizona Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury has joined USC's football staff as senior offensive analyst, head coach Lincoln Riley announced Tuesday.

es.pn

Lays the ground work for Kingsbury to get a college gig next season. He would be better off waiting because IMO, Riley is going to the NFL eventually, but Kingsbury will take the first decent gig offered IMHO.

 

[Mojo Ram]

The Cardinals are the local dumpster fire.
Suns are all in(they’ll find a way to fuck it up though).
Coyotes are getting a new building and even the D backs are off to a good start.

 

[So Ram]

Lays the ground work for Kingsbury to get a college gig next season. He would be better off waiting because IMO, Riley is going to the NFL eventually, but Kingsbury will take the first decent gig offered IMHO.

Which way was Kingsburry heading before Arizona? Thought he was going to be a Ram at one point ? At least offered a job.

He was going to be the OC at SC when he took the Cardinal’s HC job though.There is something there that he likes? Now your right it is a stepping stone.

Lincoln is awesome!! I just think he is such a good coach.He isn’t afraid & trust his players.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

The Cardinals are the local dumpster fire.
Suns are all in(they’ll find a way to fuck it up though).
Coyotes are getting a new building and even the D backs are off to a good start.

The Cards are also in the race for NFL dumpster fire too. Not just in Phoenix.

 

[So Ram]

The Cards are also in the race for NFL dumpster fire too. Not just in Phoenix.

I guess The Lakers got lucky ?
Maybe not ,but Chris Paul against Westbrook will be interesting.

Arizona , yeah I don’t know the State really at all. Spring training will be a black thing as time goes. Covid & World League hasn’t helped. Prices for Exhibition games are out of control though.Prices families out which would be good the State(growth).

The university’s are good,but what happens to The PAC 12 will be interesting.

The Cardinal's might have a chance at the #1 pick ? If that happened what happens at QB.

Trading Pick would have to be more than what The Rams got for RG111?

4 plus first rounds picks plus for Stafford & not getting that Rookie Cap Value will be worth extra value for building for the future.

 

[dpjax]

The wheels continue to crumble.

Source: Cardinals safety Baker requests trade

Arizona Cardinals Pro Bowl safety Budda Baker has requested a trade, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Friday.

www.espn.com

 

[CGI_Ram]

The wheels continue to crumble.

Source: Cardinals safety Baker requests trade

Arizona Cardinals Pro Bowl safety Budda Baker has requested a trade, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Friday.

www.espn.com

From that article, he might be a good player, but it sounds like you’ll always be chasing a contract with him.

---

Arizona Cardinals five-time Pro Bowl safety Budda Baker has requested a trade, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Friday.

Baker informed the Cardinals in February that he wanted to be traded or receive a new deal to make him the highest-paid safety, the source said.

Baker is owed $13.1 million this season and $14.2 million in 2024 from a four-year, $59 million extension he signed in 2020 that made him the highest-paid NFL safety at the time.