Cardinals fans deserve better, and they are demanding it
Dan Bickley points to the Cardinals' lack of home success as a major disservice to the fans.
Watch: Bickley Blast: Michael Bidwill needs to attack the root issues dragging down the Arizona Cardinals | 8 mins
The Cardinals have all sorts of problems. Their roster is flawed. Their fanbase is on the brink of mutiny. And the stadium that was supposed to save us all has become a junkyard for broken dreams.
In fact, the Cardinals have now lost 80 games in Glendale, matching the number of losses they had at Sun Devil Stadium, a college venue once blamed for all the team’s troubles.
If the Cardinals lose their next two home games, they will fall under .500 historically at home. And if they lose their next five home games, they will tie the NFL record for most consecutive home losses in history.
These numbers matter because the stadium once represented one of the greatest revivals in football. It reflected the pride we all felt in a Cardinals team that shed its awful history across three different cities and suddenly morphed into a legitimate contender. And now all of that seems lost … replaced by a firestorm of anger that I never saw coming.
For the sake of Mike LaFleur, I hope something good changes the mood — maybe a victory on Larry Fitzgerald day, maybe a huge breakout game from Jeremiyah Love or maybe an inspiring debut from Carson Beck. Because a rookie coach has enough spinning plates to deal with.
But there is a reckoning for the organization after the 2026 season, a time when the owner needs to attack the root issues dragging down this franchise. Because a region of nearly 6 million people deserves better. And now they’re demanding it.
Reach Bickley at dbickley@arizonasports.com. Listen to Bickley & Marotta weekdays from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. on Arizona Sports 98.7.
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Comments
28 Comments
Blah, blah… Of course, we, the people of Arizona, deserve better. But nothing is ever going to change, including you, Bickley.
We constantly talk about firing this head coach, getting rid of this GM, or calling another draft pick a bust. But guess what? It’s the same story, year after year, after year. And you media guys will never call it for what it really is.
There is ONE common denominator in all of this: Michael Bidwill and the Bidwill family.
It took me 17 years as a season ticket holder to finally figure this out, and it’s sad. Not just for Cardinals fans, but for an entire sports community that deserves a team worth cheering for. This could be a thriving sports town if we actually had a winning organization.
Ask yourself this: Why can the Cardinals never seem to attract a proven, legitimate head coach or GM? Instead, we keep hiring people looking for their first opportunity to prove themselves at the highest level. And yes, that includes Bruce Arians.
Think about how long it took Arians to realize he wanted out. I watched his entire coaching demeanor change during his third season. We were told he was going to retire, only to see him turn around and take the head coaching job in Tampa Bay. What a slap in the face to Cardinals fans!
This is no different from any other business. It starts at the top. When the person running the organization doesn't create a culture of accountability and winning, you can fire all the coaches and GMs you want. Nothing is going to change.
And that's exactly what I believe we're seeing with Michael Bidwill. He has no incentive to change as long as the money keeps rolling in through the NFL's shared revenue. Win or lose, the business keeps making money. The fans keep showing up, buying tickets, eating, drinking, and hoping that somehow, someday, things will be different.
But let's be honest: We're nothing more than puppets in a system that knows we'll keep coming back.
That's why I'm one of the biggest critics on this site. I'm tired of watching the same story unfold over and over again, while the media continues to focus on the latest coaching change, management decision, or failed draft pick instead of addressing the real problem.
So here's my message to Cardinals fans: STOP BLAMING THE PLAYERS. STOP BLAMING THE COACHES. STOP BLAMING THE GM. START HOLDING MICHAEL BIDWILL ACCOUNTABLE.
If we genuinely want change, it's time to hit this organization where it matters. BOYCOTT THE TEAM. Stop buying tickets. Stop filling the stadium. Stop rewarding an organization that has given its fans so little to celebrate.
Until ownership feels the consequences, why would anything ever change?
Seventeen years as a season ticket holder taught me one thing: The problem isn't just the latest coach, the latest GM, or the latest draft pick.
THE PROBLEM STARTS AT THE TOP. AND UNTIL MICHAEL BIDWILL CHANGES, NOTHING ELSE WILL.
Bidwill has proven for 20 years he not committed to building a winning franchise.
He has to make 1 change and he can reverse all this losing.
Step 1. Find the most respected, experienced and most expensive President money can buy and pay him.
Step 2. Give him the keys and go fly your plane and go wherever you want and let this President do his job. YOU HAVE ZERO SAY OTHER FINAL CAP LIMIT.
This is just dream of mine as Bidwill will hire some lackey as president and Michael will be in draft room trying to fit in with the cool kids.
New coaches, new GM's, new players, same old Bidwills! 19 years in AZ under Bill we won 35% of our games. 19 years under Michael we bump it up to 45%. A family of cheap losers who will never sell the team because being a cheap loser in the sports owner club is still better than not being in the club.