GLENDALE – The Arizona Cardinals will benefit from a recent grievance from the NFL to the NFL Player Association indirectly. For the past two years, the NFLPA has released report cards grading every single franchise from locker rooms, equipment, stadium and many more factors. Arizona hasn’t graded well in these reports, but the NFL stepped and filed a grievance against the NFLPA from publicizing these criticisms of teams and owners, and winning in the process.

arbitrator Scott E. Buchheit gave 11 examples of teams being overly criticized by the report card, with the Cardinals being one of the teams.

Arizona Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill and general manager Monti Ossenfort speak to the press from the Arizona Cardinals training center in Tempe after the decision to fire head coach Jonathan Gannon on Jan. 5, 2026. Syndication: Arizona Republic

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Cardinals part in 26-page ruling:

“Arizona Cardinals: The Union ranked the Club last overall based on Player feedback, criticizing the treatment of families (lack of family events, limits on pregame sideline access, poor in-game family accommodations), and a so-called deficient locker room, training facilities, and weight room. The Union stated that Players also faulted owner Michael Bidwill, saying he ‘slightly contributes to a positive team culture’ and is only ‘somewhat committed to building a competitive team[.]’

Dec 28, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Arizona Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill reacts during the game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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The franchise ranked 27th in 2024 and 32nd in 2025. These report cards will still released, but only to NFL players and will not be allowed to the public. Arizona, Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets and other teams were all mentioned in the grievance and will benefit from the bad PR that the report card handed down on each team’s owner.

Arizona did hire a new head coach in Mike LaFleur and owner Michael Bidwill claimed to be committed to winning. Despite not facing pressure from these report cards in the future, improving facilities and building a competitive team could be the start in the right direction.

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