NFL Casts Doubt on Limbaugh Bid
Goodell Cool on Radio Host as Owner
The NFL commissioner said he would find it inappropriate for an owner to make public remarks as those attributed to Rush Limbaugh in the past.
(Courtesy Of Rush Limbaugh Via Associated Press)
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Wednesday, October 14, 2009
BOSTON, Oct. 13 -- NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell raised considerable doubt Tuesday about whether conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh could secure the approval of the league's other franchise owners necessary for him to become a partial owner of the St. Louis Rams.
Goodell said he would find it inappropriate for the owner of an NFL team to make public remarks such as those attributed to Limbaugh in the past.
"I've said many times before we're all held to a high standard here, and I think divisive comments are not what the NFL is all about," Goodell said at an NFL owners meeting here. "I would not want to see those comments coming from people who are in a responsible position in the NFL, absolutely not."
Limbaugh has acknowledged being part of a group bidding for the Rams.
Goodell and several owners said Tuesday the Rams' sale process is in its early stages and the league is far from considering its possible ratification of the bid by Limbaugh and Dave Checketts, the chairman of hockey's St. Louis Blues.
But any franchise sale would have to be approved by three-quarters of the owners, and comments Tuesday by Goodell and Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay signaled that Limbaugh's bid, if accepted by the Rams, could be met by significant opposition.
Irsay said he would not vote to approve Limbaugh as an owner.
"I would not be in favor of voting for him," Irsay said. "I could ask Tony Dungy, Jim Caldwell, Dwight Freeney and consult with them, but there have been comments that have been made that have been inappropriate, incendiary and insensitive. It's bigger than football. We have to watch the words that we say. . . . Sometimes privileges in life do get lost. I would not feel comfortable.
"I've met Rush only once, and he seemed like a nice guy. But when you see the comments that are out there, I would not be comfortable. I myself couldn't be in favor of voting for him. . . . We've got to watch our words in this world and our thoughts because they can do damage."
The issue did not come up during the owners' annual fall meeting Tuesday, being held at a Boston hotel.
"That really hasn't come up," Irsay said. "John Shaw [a senior adviser to Rams' ownership] gave us a brief update on what they're trying to do."
The matter would come before the owners for their approval only if the Rams decide to proceed with a sale.
