Rush Limbaugh Dropped From Bid to Buy Rams

Rush Limbaugh has been dropped from a group bidding to buy the St. Louis Rams after several black NFL players and the league's commissioner objected to past comments by the talk show host that they found offensive, Reuters reported Thursday.

"It has become clear that his involvement in our group has become a complication and a distraction to our intentions," said SPC Worldwide Chairman Dave Checketts, who is leading the bid. "We have decided to move forward without him and hope it will eventually lead us to a successful conclusion."

Several black players said they would never play for a team that was even partially owned by Limbaugh, citing comments that could be interpreted as racially incendiary. Limbaugh once said the media wanted Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb to succeed because he is black. Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay said he would not vote to approve Limbaugh as an owner because of his "inappropriate" comments.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell told the NFL's Fall League Meeting: "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."

Limbaugh originally came on board when Checketts, who also owns the NHL's St. Louis Blues, opened the bid to other Missourians who wanted to keep the Rams in St. Louis. Limbaugh would have had a limited partnership role with little day-to-day influence on the team's management.