Rush Limbaugh Dropped From St. Louis Rams Bids

(Al Sharpton To NFL: "No Rush!")

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Reports: Group will drop Limbaugh from Rams bid


Looks like the Rush Limbaugh/NFL controversy may not last too long.

The group that is trying to buy the St. Louis Rams plans to drop the outspoken radio show host and conservative commentator, according to multiple published reports Wednesday. There is no definitive timeframe as to when the move will happen, according to ESPN.com.

News of Limbaugh being dropped from the investing group, which is led by St. Louis Blues owner Dave Checketts, comes a day after several prominent NFL figures, including commissioner Roger Goodell, expressed concern about the prospects of Limbaugh becoming part-owner of an NFL franchise.

Goodell on Tuesday labeled some things Limbaugh has said in the past as "polarizing comments that we don't think reflect accurately on the NFL or our players."

Goodell seemed to be referring to Limbaugh's 2003 comment about the Eagles' Donovan McNabb. On a Sunday Night Football broadcast on ESPN, Limbaugh said, "I think what we've had here is a little social concern in the NFL. The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well."

"I have said many times before that we are all held to a higher standard here," Goodell said Tuesday. "I think divisive comments are not what the NFL is all about. I would not want to see those kind of comments from people who are in a responsible position within the NFL. No. Absolutely not."

Also Tuesday, Colts owner Jim Irsay said he would not vote to approve Limbaugh as an NFL owner.

"I, myself, couldn't even consider voting for him," Irsay said at an owners meetings. "When there are comments that have been made that are inappropriate, incendiary and insensitive ... our words do damage, and it's something that we don't need."

Prospective owners must be approved by 24 of the league's 32 teams.

Several players have also voiced their concern over Limbaugh's potential ownership position, and NFLPA head DeMaurice Smith, who is black, urged players to speak out against Limbaugh's bid.

While Limbaugh did not have any comment in response to the reports he would be dropped from the investing group, he did address the overall situation on his radio program Wednesday.

"I'm not even thinking of exiting," Limbaugh said. "I'm not even thinking of caving. I am not a caver. None of us are. We have been betrayed by too many who have caved. Pioneers take the arrows. We are pioneers. It's a sad thing that our country over 200 years old now needs pioneers all over again, but we do."

The Rams updated the league on their potential sale on Tuesday but specific bidders were not discussed, Goodell said.

Sources: MSNBC, NFL Fox Sports, Wikipedia