Former Cardinals exec files arbitration with Roger Goodell against team owner Michael Bidwill

Former Arizona Cardinals vice president of player personnel Terry McDonough filed for arbitration with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell this week. He is accusing team owner Michael Bidwill of misconduct, harrassment, discrimination and cheating. McDonough is seeking damages for breach of contract and emotional distress.

In the filing acquired by ESPN, McDonough laid out how the team discriminated against him an former Cardinals coach Steve Wilks. They “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.”

The filing details how McDonough believes his objection to the “scheme” negatively impacted his career. He believes his refusal to engage in the communication with the general manager resulted in his eventual demotion.

“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,” the filing states. “Bidwill also subjected McDonough to bullying, mocking, harassing and abusive behavior.”

The former Cardinals VP claims his opportunities for advancement went away after the incident in 2018.

Cardinals object to allegations from McDonough

The Cardinals responded to ESPN’s request for comment, in which they denied the “outlandish” allegations.

“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.”

The Cardinals also told ESPN that Bidwill knew of illegal communications by another exec to Keim during his suspension. However, their side of the story is that the team owner took “swift action.” That action reportedly included the retrieval of the burner phones in question.

Despite the Cardinals’ supposed retrieval of the phones, McDonough claims to still have his phone. He is prepared to use it as evidence of the team owner’s alleged wrongdoing.