Per ESPN’s Tisha Thompson, 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks was recently deposed as part of the arbitration claim that former Cardinals executive Terry McDonough filed against the Cardinals and owner Michael Bidwill. Wilks testified that, when he was Arizona’s head coach in 2018, the team — pursuant to orders from Bidwill and then-GM Steve Keim — gave him a burner phone in order to communicate with Keim during Keim’s suspension for extreme DUI.
“It was a directive from Keim as well as Bidwill,” Wilks said. “They both knew.”
Wilks went on to say that several top members of the club’s power structure were furnished with phones and instructions on how to use them. He testified that Keim had multiple phones, and that Bidwill and other execs communicated with Keim during the club’s contract negotiations with running back David Johnson. For his part, Wilks says that he used his burner phone only once, when Keim texted him to ask how things were going at practice.
Wilks’ testimony supports McDonough’s complaint, which alleges (among other things) that Bidwill sabotaged his former exec’s career in retaliation for McDonough’s objection to the plan to illegally communicate with Keim. As we detailed in April, the NFL would be forced to suspend Bidwill if it becomes clear that he engaged in the burner phone scheme. And, if some of McDonough’s other allegations are substantiated — for instance, he accuses Bidwill of treating a Black employee and two pregnant women poorly and creating “an environment of fear for minority employees” — Bidwill could face more significant repercussions. Indeed, McDonough argues that Bidwill’s conduct is “significantly worse” than that of Robert Sarver, the former owner of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns who was suspended by the NBA for a year and fined $10MM before ultimately selling the team.
Some addditional context is necessary here. As we also wrote in April, statements made by Cardinals PR consultant Jim McCarthy in response to McDonough’s claim may have created additional causes of action for McDonough that would allow him to take his fight to the public forum of a courthouse as opposed to the more sheltered arbitration setting, but it does not appear as if he has attempted to do so (at least not with respect to his claims against Bidwill and the Cardinals). His complaint remains in arbitration, which is conducted by an NFL-appointed arbitrator and generally weighted in the team’s favor.
Additionally, Wilks’ attorney did not permit cross-examination during his deposition, which was therefore not admitted into the record (though arbitrator Jeffrey Mishkin elected to keep the video and transcript of the deposition rather than destroy it, as Cardinals attorneys requested).
“As much as we would like to share the truth of what transpired, the confidentiality order in place prohibits us from doing so,” the Cardinals said in a statement to ESPN.
It is also worth noting that Wilks is a co-plaintiff in the lawsuit alleging racial discrimination originally filed by former Dolphins head coach and current Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores. In that action, Wilks makes an allegation that could be a reference to the burner phone caper and further avers that he was wrongfully terminated after his one season as the Cardinals’ HC.
Wilks’ deposition testimony is, of course, consistent with the assertions he makes in his lawsuit. He said he did not want to communicate with Keim during the GM’s suspension, but as a first-year Black coach, he did not feel comfortable voicing his concerns to Bidwill directly. Instead, he asked McDonough to speak to Bidwill on his behalf, and he witnessed a “heated conversation” between McDonough and Bidwill shortly thereafter. From that point forward, Wilks says, the owner’s demeanor towards him changed.
Wilks also testified that, during his tenure as HC, Bidwill berated him multiple times. One such incident, he says, took place over speakerphone while Wilks was driving home with his nine-year-old son after a game. He added that Bidwill berated a scout who is Black for parking in the owner’s parking space.
The entire ESPN piece is well-worth a read for all NFL fans, and is naturally of particular interest to Cardinals supporters.
All those picks they have been accumulating are going to come in handy when they have to lose 2 of them in the coming years.
Like DC, the Cards needs new ownership. That franchise has sucked my whole 50 years living.
We’re you alive when they played the Steelers in the Super Bowl?
The St. Louis Rams, out of Missouri?
Sure was. And watched a LB run back an int 99 yards to end the half. Sums up the Cards right there.
link to youtube.com
Did he go by the name of
1.) Ron Mexico
2.) Friend of Dan Rooney
3.) Enrico Pallazzo
4.) The Big Guy
5.) JRB Ware
6.) Diego Partles
The racism nonsense doesn’t hold any water and is clearly there to defame the accused. Black employees can’t be criticized for parking in a space reserved for ownership? I know a guy who was fired for parking in the owners spot at a small manufacturing company, he wasn’t black so i guess it was no big deal. Because the coach is black he was afraid to speak up? That sounds like a personal problem. The owner hired him so he’s clearly not the racist being alluded to. No respect for anyone involved. What a joke.
Wilks has a good case for wrongful termination, but he seems to be supporting one lawsuit with the other here. I don’t imagine that either are occurring in a vacuum. We can’t judge without hearing his words, but the article makes it sound like Bidwell was wrong for treating people who had certain status (black or pregnant). It doesn’t exactly say that his alleged mistreatment predicated on that alone, which would be a pretty big difference (which is what your comment alludes to, I believe).
I don’t know, and I never will, but the football element of Wilks’ mistreatment I can vouch for. He was blamed for a failed season after receiving no support and fired. Keim was suspended for his own behavior, and supposedly still trying to run the team. That would be dedicated, if it weren’t his own mistakes that got him there. It’s not any surprise that the Rosen rebuild failed as badly as it did-they never had a chance at all. They certainly didn’t get what Murray did during his rebuild.
I was hoping to see Wilks get a chance with the Panthers, actually, but an experienced coach in Reich after the debacle with the inexperienced Rhule was probably the right call. I’m not saying that Wilks would have been great as a HC, but I also really don’t think that we got a chance to see what he could do. Wilks can coach better than that Arizona showing suggested.
There are times I wish NFL stood for No F–king Lawyers. I propose the league save on SB half time entertainment costs by throwing all these clowns into a cage at midfield and letting them fight each other to the death.
What I do not understand is why a Caucasian owner that critiques a person of color can be called a racist yet ‘affirmative action’, that encourages preferred employment to ‘people of color’, isn’t consider the same!
I’ve been passed over, for employment, by Federal agencies because I’m not a ‘person of color’ even though I had better scores on the battery of ‘tests’ required for such careers. Can I sue the US government?
You got told specifically that you didn’t get a job you were more qualified for because of being white? Where they shared everyones scores? That sounds like something you tell yourself. Anyone can be critiqued and that’s fair.
Yep
The team that’s cheap enough to force their players to buy their own lunches is also apparently willing to supply burner phones to everyone in the building
Bidwell: “The team will never catch fire but I got us some burner phones that might”.
Black coaches don’t get offered head coaching positions nearly as often so yes it makes sense that he’d be hesitant to clash with ownership and especially when it’s an issue like burner phones to circumvent NFL rules. Sexist men will still hire women, racist men will still hire people of color. Employees and friends are different
Just need to set the FACTS straight here, based on the reporting, and unsubstantiated character assassination of Terry McDonoughs character, above board, respected principles for which Terry lives by!
What I will personally attest to, is Terry’s lifelong “call ’em like I see ’em approach to the TRUTH. Why shoot the messenger, when the messenger shines the light on the purported facts!? character assassination, bringing in Terry’s private-personal (decades ago) struggles with a disease and sickness that he was able to overcome, is NOT appropriate, both under HIPPAA laws, and the laws of shared in confidence, personal challenges. Bidwell has thrown many under the bus, and as King Baby, Tidwell should learn some new lessons on “HOW” to treat the “Peasants” with utmost appreciation, gratitude, and respect! No matter race, creed, religion, socio-economic standing. SHAME ON YOU Mr. Bidwell, the TRUTH will prevail. Terry I have personally known for many decades, and can attest to his solid, stand up , character! Terry McDonough BLEW THE WHISTLE, now he is being attacked. Stay Tuned folks! Wishing the best for the ARIZONA Cardinals and the rabid FANS!