Two NFL sources said Wednesday afternoon that the Dave Checketts-led group bidding to buy the St. Louis Rams has dropped controversial radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh from its group of bidders. One of the sources said Checketts is concerned that his bid is weak to begin with, and that the presence of Limbaugh in the group would effectively kill any chance he had.Limbaugh's emergence as a possible part-owner of an NFL franchise has caused a major controversy in recent days. Several NFL players, with the support of DeMaurice Smith and the NFL players' union, have spoken out in opposition to the idea of the right-wing Limbaugh owning a team. Colts owner Jim Irsay said he wouldn't vote to award a franchise to a group that included Limbaugh. And even commissioner Roger Goodell cited "divisive comments" made by Limbaugh as something the NFL would want to avoid adding to the ranks of its owners.
"I've said many times before, we're all held to a higher standard here," Goodell told reporters in Boston at the NFL owners meetings this week. "I would not want to see those comments coming from people who are in a responsible position in the NFL. Absolutely not."
Limbaugh has caused controversy in the past with comments about the NFL and its players, losing a job as an ESPN analyst in part because he suggested that Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb received favorable media treatment because he is black.The Rams issue is a cloudy one, because no one seems to know for sure whether they're really for sale. And the Checketts-led bid, according to the sources, has other viability problems that have nothing to do with Limbaugh. But apparently, Checketts has decided that any chance he does have is not going to be helped as long as Limbaugh is a member of his potential ownership group.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
10-14-2009 @ 6:17PM
madhatter said...
Is Goodell kidding? "We're all held to a higher standard."
Does this higher standard apply to Michael Vick who deliberately inflicted pain on helpless animals, lied to Goodell, and lied to the Falcons' owner? No, Vick was given a pass--I mean a second chance. What hypocrisy!!
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10-14-2009 @ 7:41PM
jjhrams said...
Yes I have something to say: Thank God the NFL said "hell no to Rush"! The game is tough enough physically, why on earth would you add this negative bag of mental hot air to the game? The game of football unites cities and states, regardless of color, class or religion. Lets keep it that way. We don't want to hear from nor see an overweight bigot like this smoking a cigar after a Rams victory. He looks like, talks like and acts like a former plantation owner. I'll bet his main goal of buying a football team is to drive down wages equal to slave labor.
Thank you NFL
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10-14-2009 @ 7:51PM
Michael said...
Very sad that in a FREE Country a person can't be part of buying a football team because of who they are...YET a person that hurt harmless animals like Michael Vick is allowed to play football again. Yes...VERY SAD
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10-14-2009 @ 8:41PM
Customize said...
How could Roger Goodell keep a straight face - talking about being held to a higher standard when he is the commissioner of the National Felons League.
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10-15-2009 @ 10:33AM
JC said...
What a joke this is with the so many known criminals in the NFL...
10-14-2009 @ 8:43PM
buffey89 said...
Tell Jim Irsay and any sdvertisers that pay for Colts games that I will never watch a Colts game on TV again. Time for an advertiser NFL boycott. College football is so much better to watch anyway.
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10-14-2009 @ 8:47PM
buffey89 said...
People who think Limbaugh is a bigot have probably not heard him speak other than out of context CNN soundbites. People should not pass judgement without facts (like what happened with the cop and Harvard dude).
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10-15-2009 @ 11:44AM
Hugh said...
Buffy, you are full of it. I have listened to Rush's show on many occasions so I know from whence I speak. He is a lying, race-baiting, obese, drug-abusing dirtbag. Yes, I listen because Chinese philosopher Sun Tzu said: “Know thy enemy and know thy self and you will win a hundred battles.” People like Rush, Malkin and Man Coulter are enemies of America just as much as The Taliban and al-Qaeda are. Kudos to Mr. Checketts and the NFL.
10-14-2009 @ 8:49PM
buffey90 said...
People should not be such Rushlphobes.
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10-14-2009 @ 10:33PM
Greetings W9ACT said...
Jim Ersay has the G A L L to say anything about anything! He's so d* * n cheap he has to have the great people of indianapolis taxed just to have a place to play. Then expects the state of Indiana to bail him outbecause he is SO cheap. And he's only paying $1M a year for a nearly $1B stadium . Shut up Ersay and get the heck out of Indy. I like the Colts, but won't buy another ticket or souvenir.
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10-14-2009 @ 10:38PM
Greetings W9ACT said...
And besides......If you don't like Rush, don't listen to him. The man DOES know football, inside and out. He knows trhe players AND the game itself. It's STILL a free country, capitalism and all you know. If Rush has the money to invest, let him. Heck, he might even improve the quality of the game. He couldn't do worse than some of the officials letting people like Vic back in, criminal record (A FELONY) and all. Skin color has NOTHING to do with it for all you racists out there. Earn, invest, dividends, re-invest....the AMERICAN way. God Bless America
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10-14-2009 @ 11:05PM
Pimp Daddy said...
If u don't like Vic ,don't watch him. This man can play football.He know the players and the game itself. It's STILL a free country,capitalism and all u know.If Philly has the money to invest,let them.Skin color has NOTHING to do with it,for all u haters out there.Earn,invest,dividends,re-invest.....the AMERICAN way.God bless America,Philly,and MR.VICK
10-14-2009 @ 11:08PM
pondermom said...
Rush should have the nerve to stand behind everything he's said, both good and bad.
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10-15-2009 @ 12:07AM
JB said...
Limbaugh is a racist drug abusing scum bag. Any affiliation between him and the NFL would be the end of the league as we know it. And the NFL is well aware of this fact. There would be protests and boycotts involving players, fans and advertisers from coast to coast. So why would the NFL want to mess up a good thing by allowing this big mouth hate monger to join the club? This PIG hopefully will see that there are ramifications to the racist, sexist, and homophobic demagoguery that he spews. He has only one venue that will accept him, and that his radio show, where he sits in a 5x7 box and stokes the fears of a scared and shrinking constituency of lemmings. So be sure to tune in tomorrow and listen to frog mouth blame everyone for conspiring against him and treating him so badly. Maybe he can take some of his money and invest in a local KKK chapter, I'm sure they could use some new sheets. What a tool.
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10-15-2009 @ 1:53AM
Jetfan said...
JB much of what you say is correct. I know and you know black players would still play in the NFL
even if Limbo was the owner. Some may not, that is their perrogative. But Goodell is paniking. He must imagine a league without black players would be no league. I believe blacks comprise about 3/4 of the players but thy are not dumb,big money can be made. For money just grin and bear it.
So he is covering his ass just in case.it boils down to $$$$ it always does. In fact I have often wondered why the Super Bowl isn't played in Vegas every year instead of the warm weather climates around the country, because duhhh the NFL says it
"would promote gambling" LMFAOOO sure sure, probably more people bet on the Super Bowl than any other one think maybe except the World Cup for
soccer. Or why not in the home city of the teams
that got there? Maybe a coin toss? But OMG the cute little starlets from Hollywood wouldn't come
to say Chicago, New England, NY or many other cold weather cities. These broads don't even know what a football is. Yea leave the fans that froze their b@lls off all season rooting for them literally out in the cold. But hey, thats the way it is in the NFL again $$$$$ wins out.
10-15-2009 @ 12:36AM
krumpgirl said...
Good Riddance FAT BOY!!.....Take your JUNKIE, DRUG-ADDICTED, LYING, BIGOTED, FELONIOUS, HYPOCRITICAL ASS back to HATE RADIO where you belong and don't come back. Stay on the fringe with all of the LOSERS that listen to the GARBAGE that you put out everyday. My only regret is that you committed a crime and didn't go to jail. Buying illegal, falsified prescriptions for OXYCOTIN is no better than buying crack off of the streets and you should have been prosecuted as such. Where was the outrage from all of you "tough on crime" rightwingers when FAT BOY was hustling dope just like any other JUNKIE. What a bunch of hypocrites!
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10-15-2009 @ 9:04AM
David said...
So much for freedom of speech and capitalism/free market rights in America. It's sad that people can't figure out that the comments Rush made were an opinion on media bias rather than a racial attack on McNabb. You clueless libs better wake up soon. Your country is disappearing at an alarming rate and your rights will be gone along with everyone else's.
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10-15-2009 @ 9:42AM
LA26 said...
Reading some of these comments I think a good majority of you forgot to attach "white power" at the end.
I'm black. Had to let that be known before my next statement was made. Even though we(people with a conscious) may dislike Rush whether for his racial hate or for his ongoing drug abuse he still should be presented every right that every other person is entitled to.
I'd say let him in on the bid and let the proCess run its course. Rush is an outspoken racist because frankly the demographic he caters to is a product of racial hate.
I'm wondering why Dave Checketts hasn't come into question as well. You are in a sense in whole or part the company you keep. He sought out one of the most influential racists of this decade in an attempt to purchase a football team. It makes me question his decision process.
All in all you don't correct hate with hate. As our country ages so does the people. Afford him the rights that you would want afforded to you regardless of his past.
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10-19-2009 @ 5:58PM
angryguy77 said...
Yup hes a racist for sure. Thats why he has Thomas Sowell guest host on his program. Thats why he interviews Shelby Steele and defended Judge Thomas. He's so much a racist that he even has a black call screener. Yup those racists sure hate minorities but for some odd reason love to hang out with them.
Before you go around makeing yourself sound like an ignorant fool, you might want to think for yourself and come to a conclusion on your own. and not what the media and AL Sharpton tell you to think
10-15-2009 @ 11:23AM
brojones99 said...
To: Limbaugh, go buy your own league. Name the teams and play them against each other. for example, The limbaugh bigots vs. the limbaugh drugsters, or the limbaugh cullit kat haters, vs the oxycotin bangers, or the redneck racist, vs. the footinmouth fatboys, and the list goes on.
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