Limbaugh All Fire and Brimstone on Radio Show

NFL News - October 15th, 2009 - Written by John

When it comes to the NFL, it usually takes days of agonizing badgering and digging to get down to the heart of any real issue. Take Brady Quinn for instance. A few days ago, he put his Cleveland-area home on the market after being benched in favor of Derek Anderson. He immediately tried to quell rumors that he was planning to get out of the Browns organization by saying he was simply trying to relocated and get closer to the stadium. But reports believed that as much as doctors believe you quit smoking, and a report on ProFootballTalk today outlined his private intentions of hoping to push the franchise to ship his rights elsewhere. One source reportedly told the site, "this is Quinn's way of being a bitch."

So maybe Rush Limbaugh's most recent comments are refreshing in a way, needing no prodding or instigation to lash out at the NFL and former partner Dave Checketts, who just yesterday broke his ties when it became clear his bid for the franchise would fail if their partnership continued. Interested parties needed only to turn on their radios.

On his radio show today, Limbaugh said that he felt misled by Checketts when he was first approached to be a partner in the bid for the St. Louis Rams. He claimed Checketts told him he would have operational duties with the team and that his possible role had already been cleared by other owners.

"I said to him at this meeting, 'Are you aware of the firestorm?' He said 'We wouldn't have approached you if we hadn't taken care of that," Limbaugh said of the pair's first meeting

But it was clear that wasn't the case in recent days, when many of the league's officials voiced their displeasure in the outspoken talking head having any part of the NFL. Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay led the charge, saying he would not vote for Checketts' bid were Limbaugh to be involved. Several players also said they would never sign with the Rams if the conservative host owned the team. For a potential investor to be awarded a team, 75-percent of the NFL's owners must approve. Many other public figures, like Reverend Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton have asked the league to boycott his involvement, in what Limbaugh categorized as "hatred".

Limbaugh went so far as to say he thought NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was influenced by Players' Association leader De Smith. He said he believed Smith is working for the White House and used it's bias against him to leverage Goodell, thus leveraging the NFL in it's bargaining agreement.

"Obama's America on full display," he said during his show. "...it's designed to intimidate the owners, frighten the owners, and say 'We're running this league now, gang, not you.' This little warning shot fired across the bow to the owners, to say 'Get ready, here we come for the next collective bargaining agreement,' so we'll see how it all unfolds."

The NFLPA has been at odds with the owners over issues including salary cap, and has threatened a lockout following the 2010 season.

Meanwhile, Checketts said he plans to continue with his attempt to buy the Rams. He already chairs the St. Louis Blues of the NHL and is one of about six investors to bid on the team. It has been on sale since the death of it's previous owner, Georgia Frontiere, in early 2008.

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