10.14.09 NFL BRASS: RUSH LIMBAUGH IS ‘DIVISIVE’

People are still going ape over shock jock Rush Limbaugh and his association with a group planning to buy the St. Louis Rams. Add NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to that list. Apparently Limbaugh needs to beef up on his “Roamin’ Catholic Ginger Ruling With An Iron Fist” demo.

“I’ve said many times before, we’re all held to a high standard here,” Mr. Goodell said. “I would not want to see those comments coming from people who are in a responsible position in the N.F.L. — absolutely not.”

Mr. Goodell emphasized that it was extremely early in the process and that the Rosenbloom family, which owns the St. Louis Rams, is not even fully committed to sell its majority stake in the team.[..] via.

Support seems to be in short supply at the ownership level as well. Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay is on record as saying “Not a chance in Hell.”

“I myself couldn’t even think of voting for him,” said Irsay speaking from the NFL’s Fall Owner’s Meetings in Boston.via.

I gave my take on this at the Washington Post blog, and while I think Limbaugh has every right to own whatever he can afford, Limbaugh doesn’t seem to be great for business. And some have drawn parallels to Michael Vick and the media’s attitude toward his reinstatement, which seems like apples and oranges. While Vick’s actions were obviously more atrocious, they seem to be over and done with. The last thing Goodell wants to do is monitor his owners the way that he has to do with the players.