Cardinals president Michael Bidwill (right) sits with Arizona Republic writer Craig Harris during a question-and-answer session Friday at the spring conference for the Society of American Business Editors and Writers.
As the NFL draft draws closer, so too does the likelihood of an openly gay player joining the league. Front offices continue to evaluate Missouri defensive end Michael Sam, and based on college production it seems almost certain he will be on a roster for training camp.
If it happens, Cardinals team president Michael Bidwill has no doubt the NFL will be ready for the historic occasion.
"One thing I know about our players is they all come from different backgrounds," Bidwill told those in attendance at the Society of American Business Editors and Writers' spring conference at Arizona State University on Friday. "They have different beliefs, they have different political beliefs, religious beliefs, different socioeconomic backgrounds, but the one thing they care about is winning football games and competing at a high level. They don't care about the rest of that stuff."
Bidwill spoke on a variety of other football-related topics, including the 2015 Super Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium, proposed playoff expansion and the perceived worry of television overexposure.
Bidwill said there will be many events in downtown Phoenix and in Scottsdale during the run-up to the Super Bowl, and that 150,000 visitors and 6,000 media are expected to make the trip. He said the sheer magnitude of the event is making it increasingly tougher for smaller markets to host the Super Bowl.
"There's got to be a certain amount of infrastructure in place," Bidwill said.
He is in favor of increasing the playoffs to accompany two more teams, which would add one more wild card to each conference and reserve an opening-week bye to only the No. 1 seeds. The Cardinals would have been the NFC's seventh representative in last year's playoffs under this criteria, while the Steelers would have made it in the AFC.
Bidwill also addressed recent comments made by Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. Cuban believes the NFL could suffer from overexposure if it broadcasts more weeknight games, but Bidwill disagreed.
"I find it ironic (because) his team probably plays four nights a week," Bidwill said.
