Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
When news broke that Rush Limbaugh was part of a group interested in buying the St. Louis Rams, everyone immediately hopped on one side of the fence and firmly entrenched themselves, ready to argue against the opposing side (Limbaugh is a polarizing figure, you see). Lost in all that, of course, was the small fact that the sale was still in the early stages and that Limbaugh becoming an owner was still a long way from happening. And after today's comments that emerged from an NFL owners' meeting, one has to doubt if it will happen at all.
Commissioner Roger Goodell said here Tuesday that it would be inappropriate for the owner of an NFL franchise to make the sort of controversial statements attributed in the past to conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh.
"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. "I would not want to see those comments coming from people who are in a responsible position in the NFL, absolutely not."
Goodell went on to say that "the Rams' sale process is in its early stages and the league is far from considering a potential bid by Limbaugh..."
Furthermore, as Mark Maske reminds, any sale would have to be approved by three-quarters of the owners, and early returns indicate that would be tough, based on what the commissioner said. In fact, Colts owner Jim Irsay has already said Limbaugh would not get his vote.
"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 incendiary, insensitive. It's bigger than football. We have to watch the words that we say...
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