GLENDALE – Pieces of a 61-page document was published on Pablo Toree’s podcast, “Pablo Torre Finds Out,” regarding a claim from the NFL Players Association about the league colluding to prevent teams to offer fully guaranteed contracts. The names in the document are quarterbacks from around the league like Cleveland Browns Deshaun Watson, Baltimore Ravens Lamar Jackson and Arizona Cardinals Kyler Murray.
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Apr 26, 2019; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals president Michael Bidwill (left) alongside quarterback Kyler Murray prior to being introduced to the media in a press conference at the Cardinals Training Facility after being drafted with the first overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill had his texts leaked about him and then-general manager Steve Keim discussing the fear of heading into neogatations with Murray and his agent Erik Burkhardt. The fear was because of the Browns offering Watson a fully guaranteed $230 million contract extension, with the hope from owners and teams that this doesn’t become the new norm. Burkhardt wanted fully guaranteed money, but Bidwill and Kiem find a way around those demands.
Leaked text conversation between Cardinals Bidwell and Kiem:
Bidwill: “We are going to load up this contract with … so many incentives to earn the real money.”
Keim: “Why the Browns felt so compelled to pay Watson like that is baffling.”
Feb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Arizona Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill on the field before Super Bowl LIX between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs at Ceasars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Murry’s contract ended around the same value of Watson’s but only $103 million was fully guaranteed, with the final two years having zero guaranteed money. The new deal reset the contract market with quarterbacks, with owners texting Bidwill to thank him. Chargers owner Dean Spanos congratulated the Cardinals owner and stated “your deal helps us for our QB [Justin Herbert] next year.”
Bidwill’s response: “Thanks Deno! These QB deals are getting expensive but we limited the fully guaranteed money and have some pretty good language. Thankfully, we have a QB that’s worth paying. I think many teams will be happy with it once they have a chance to review. Cleveland really screwed things up, but I was resolved to keep the guaranteed money relatively ‘low.’”
Arizona Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill talks with head coach Jonathan Gannon before playing against the New York Jets at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Nov. 10, 2024. Syndication: Arizona Republic
Arizona got the quarterback market back in check, with many of the owners grateful for the shift back to normalcy. The NFL PA lost its claim of collusion from teams withholding guaranteed money. However, it does appear that owners aim to limit the guaranteed money in those big contracts from what can be inferred in those text messages from Bidwill and others.
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
