NFL denies it cleared Limbaugh's Rams role

"Rush Limbaugh used portions of his three-hour radio show Thursday to tell his side of the story of his involvement and removal from a group bidding to buy the St. Louis Rams.

Until Wednesday, Limbaugh was part of the group put together by Dave Checketts, owner of the St. Louis Blues, which intends to keep the team in St. Louis. Limbaugh revealed in the opening segment of his show that Checketts had asked Limbaugh to join the group and had asked him to withdraw Tuesday. Limbaugh refused.

'"If you want me out, you go public and fire me,'" Limbaugh said.

According to Limbaugh, Checketts first approached him in late May or early June about getting involved in a group of investors.

"I said, 'Are you aware of the firestorm?'" Limbaugh told his radio audience, adding that Checketts had assured him, '"I would not have even asked you to be part of the group if I hadn't cleared your involvement with people at the highest levels of the National Football League.'"

The NFL disputed Limbaugh's assertion, however.

"We do not pre-approve prospective owners of NFL clubs and did not do so in Mr. Limbaugh's case," Greg Aiello, the NFL's senior vice president of public relations, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Thursday. "At all times we have been clear with prospective purchasers of the Rams or any other club that approval of an owner could only be granted by vote of the 32 clubs after complete financial and personal due diligence, which obviously has not taken place here."

Checketts declined to comment Thursday through a spokesman. His group is one of as many as six bidding to buy the Rams but is the only one that has been identified.

In addition to Checketts, Limbaugh blamed his removal on the Rev. Al Sharpton, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and DeMaurice Smith, head of the NFL Players' Association, who urged players to speak out against Limbaugh.

Limbaugh referred to Smith as "an Obamaite," and said his ouster was "a bit of leverage in (the players') negotiations with the league and with the owners on a new collective bargaining agreement," which expires after the 2010 season.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09291/1006180-66.stm#ixzz0UHtyu0St"

This may not be fair to Rush, but I see where they are coming from. I am a Rep., I don't listen to Rush, but he has said some very stupid shit in the past and the whole "black QB" thing killed his shot at this long ago.