James Robertson

Revised, edited version of the petition, with the assistance of @JoannaJLove whom I consider a co-author and inspiration. If you have any further suggestions, please share them here before we open the petition up to signatures and send it to the NFL. This is a collaborative effort. Thank all of you for impelling this effort. To: The NFL - Urge Michael Bidwill to Sell the Team or Step Down as Team President We Arizona Cardinals' fans would like to urge the NFL to ask Michael Bidwill to sell the team or to at least hire a new Team President in order to put the troubled franchise's key decision-making in the hands of someone more competent, trustworthy and charismatic. For the following reasons: Key Allegations and Lawsuits (per Google) Arizona Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill has faced multiple high-profile allegations of verbal abuse, harassment, discrimination, and gross misconduct from former employees and executives.  * Terry McDonough Arbitration Claim (April 2023): Former Cardinals executive Terry McDonough filed an NFL arbitration claim with Commissioner Roger Goodell accusing Bidwill of cheating, harassment, and discrimination. McDonough alleged that Bidwill forced him and former head coach Steve Wilks to use burner phones in 2018 to communicate with general manager Steve Keim during Keim's suspension. The filing also claimed Bidwill created a hostile environment, screamed at and brought two pregnant employees to tears, berated staff, and retaliated against McDonough with a demotion when he objected. * Britney Newheisel Lawsuit (February 2025): Former personal assistant Britney Newheisel filed a lawsuit against Bidwill claiming he tormented and harassed her. Her claims state that Bidwill demanded she participate in illegal acts—including providing false information on federal and international travel disclosure forms and illegally shipping a firearm via FedEx—and ridiculed her Catholic faith when she objected. The suit also alleges Bidwill made inappropriate comments about replacing her with someone "young, beautiful and athletic". * Former executive assistant Kendra Hogue alleges discrimination (per Theo Mackie's article titled "Arizona Cardinals, Michael Bidwill sued by former coach, executive assistant") of October 11, 2026, in the Arizona Republic. Hogue worked for the Cardinals from Sept. 9, 2024, to Nov. 8, 2024. Her allegations center on the workplace treatment she faced in her two months with the organization. “During the course of her employment, Hogue was subjected to a toxic work environment characterized by retaliatory behavior, managerial dysfunction, and mistreatment, which materially altered the terms and conditions of her employment,” the lawsuit says. As an African American woman, Hogue was subjected to disparate treatment.” * Former assistant coach Don Shumpert is suing Cardinals (per Theo Mackie) The lawsuit centers on a period in 2022, after Shumpert said he was told by then-head coach Kliff Kingsbury that he had been promoted to running backs coach. According to the lawsuit, the Cardinals did not communicate the details of his role change, and Shumpert continued to work the two jobs throughout training camp and to start the season. On Sept. 26, 2022, he met with Kingsbury and then-general manager Steve Keim about his pay. Kingsbury and Keim told Shumpert that they could not increase his pay, and that he would have to speak to Bidwill. Shumpert never received a pay raise. Instead, he was fired on Oct. 3, 2022. “During this conversation, Kingsbury told Shumpert the reason he was fired was because he had conversations with Adrian Wilson, the former vice president of the Cardinals, about his contract, which was unfortunately another lie,” the lawsuit said. “The Cardinals’ pattern of lies continued when they sent Shumpert an email giving him the reasons he was fired, citing attempts to delegate job duties to other members of the staff without authorization.” At the time, the Cardinals were the only NFL organization that charged players for take-home dinners and offseason meals, according to the 2023 NFL Players Association report card. Shumpert’s lawsuit notes that coaches were also forced to pay for their offseason meals.  “One evening as Shumpert was leaving work, Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill scowled at Shumpert as he simply took two water bottles from the fridge,” the lawsuit alleges. “Bidwill proceeded to ask Shumpert if he was going grocery shopping before shaking his head and walking away.” On the subject of discrimination, the lawsuit notes that Shumpert began a new role working with the wide receivers in February 2022, but that he did not officially receive the title of assistant wide receivers' coach. During the previous season, “the Cardinals promoted two white coaches, giving them new titles and contracts for doing the exact same job they were doing before,” the lawsuit says.  After his termination by the Cardinals, Shumpert was unable to land another job in the coaching industry. He is currently working in the financial services industry, according to his LinkedIn page. * General Workplace Culture Claims:  Bidwill has faced broader accusations of public berating of employees and fostering hostility in the workplace. * Bidwill is facing allegations in the Brian Flores complaint against the NFL for the abusive ways in which he treated head coach Stve Wilks in 2022. Financial Concerns * Despite earning $62M in profits during the Cardinals' 3-14 season last year, Bidwill had hired a coaching staff comprised of first-time head coach, first-time offensive coordinators, numerous first-time position coaches several of them coming from college with no NFL experience --- with no veteran advisors to help enhance and expedite the young coaches' development.  * Over the past three seasons, Bidwill has carried over $34.3M of unused salary cap while not spending the money to improve glaring personnel needs at the team's weaker positions.  * Since becoming Team President in 2007, Bidwill fired the team's experienced GM, Rod Graves, and has hired two GM since, neither of whom came with GM experience. * During that interim, Bidwill has hired 5 new head coaches, none of whom had previous NFL head coaching experience.  * Team ticket sales and fan interests have been plummeting at a steady pace to the point where State Farm Stadium has been overtaken by opposing team's fans, as it was, once again this week, when the Lions' fans came roaring into town. * Phoenix as the fifth largest metropolitan area in the country is virtually untapped as an NFL revenue stream due to the complete mismanagement of the team. Organizational Whitewashing * For the past 4 seasons, Bidwill's top ranked and highest paid employees in the front office, the coaching staff (head coach, DC, OC, STC) and the 8-member media team and business office have not included a single person of color. * Imagine what kind of a statement this makes from a racial standpoint to the Cardinals' players, the vast majority of whom are persons of color. Not only is Bidwill dictating the color of the team leadership he's asserting full control over the media to ensure that he is painted in the most favorable of light.  * Former Players and Coaches Who Left Arizona Thoroughly Disgusted With the Way They've Been Treated. Examples:   Anquan Bolden Bruce Arians Carson Palmer John Brown Larry Fitzgerald Patrick Peterson Chandler Jones Tyrann Mathieu Steve Wilks Isaiah Simmons Andy Isabella Byron Murphy Jr. Kliff Kingsbury Vance Jospeh DeAndre Hopkins Kyler Murray Marvin Harrison Jr. * This type of negativity from former players and coaches affects every aspect of how the Cardinals are perceived at home, nationally and among prospective free agents and draft picks. Their bitterness creates and perpetuates a highly damaging image about the team and its leadership throughout all circles of the NFL.  * Without a change in team leadership, what 2027 draft picks will want to be taken by the Arizona Cardinals? Particularly top-rated quarterbacks. * For example, would a QB like Arch Manning agree to come to Arizona? Instead, would he demand to be traded like his Uncle Eli did back in 2024 when he refused to go to the Chargers? * What about the perception of the Cardinals tanking as it was in 2024 when it looked plain as day that the owner, GM and head coach asked kicker Matt Prater to miss two field goals that could have sealed a Week 18 home win versus the Seahawks. How does the NFL, as protector of The Shield, feel about that? * It is no secret that Michael Bidwill is one the NFL's most corrupt and unscrupulous owners --- if not the most corrupt. Look at how many times he or a close associate has broken NFL rules, the latest being the Jonathan Gannon tampering in 2023 during the Super Bowl prep weeks and this past spring, personnel executive and Director of College Scouting Ryan Gold getting suspended by the NFL for severe violations of the league's gambling policy. * How can you, the NFL, possibly trust and continue to ally with Michael Bidwill? * How then can the team, coaches, players and fans ever trust Michael Bidwill? * Cardinals' fans deserve an owner and team president who treats his job and the people around him with integrity and respect. We deserve to host a competitive football team that can generate the community's full engagement and trust. Please save us from an owner who has caused us so much distrust and emotional distress.