According to reports from both ESPN and The Athletic, former Cardinals executive Terry McDonough has filed an arbitration claim against owner Michael Bidwill for cheating and harassment related to a “burner phone scheme” to circumvent GM Steve Keim‘s 2018 suspension for a DUI.
McDonough says he and then-HC Steve Wilks were provided with burner phones to communicate with Keim during his suspension during training camp in 2018. When McDonough objected, he says Bidwill berated him and later demoted him.
“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 says.
McDonough says he has audio recordings of conversations with Keim during his suspension and still has the burner phone he was given.
Wilks also objected, and the Athletic notes his claim against the team for discrimination related to being fired after just one season includes a reference to Keim’s “so-called” suspension.
The Cardinals released a statement to ESPN calling McDonough’s filing “outlandish” and saying they intended to defend themselves. The team claimed another employee “had interfered with the protocol of that suspension” and Bidwill took “swift action” upon becoming aware of it and directed that...
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