ST. LOUIS — Opposition is mounting to the presence of conservative radio commentator Rush Limbaugh on a potential St. Louis Rams ownership group.

“I myself couldn’t even consider voting for him,” Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay told The Associated Press Tuesday in Boston, where he was attending the league’s fall meetings. “When there are comments that have been made that are inappropriate, incendiary and insensitive . . . our words do damage, and it’s something that we don’t need.”
In his comments to the media Tuesday in Boston, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell also distanced himself from Limbaugh.
“I have said many times before that we are all held to a higher standard here (in the NFL),” Goodell said. “I think divisive comments are not what the NFL is all about. I would not want to see those kinds of comments from people who are in a responsible position within the NFL. No. Absolutely not.”
During the weekend, NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith encouraged players to speak out against Limbaugh’s candidacy as a potential Rams owner. Several players already have done so, although none from the Rams.
“I love Spags, and would play for him in a heartbeat,” New York Giants defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka told the New York Daily News last week, in reference to Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo. “But not under that situation. ... (Limbaugh) can do whatever he wants. It is a free country. But if it goes through, I can tell you where I’m not going to play.”
Goodell said Tuesday that he has talked to players, “So I understand the issue of the players. The comments that Rush made, specifically about Donovan (McNabb), I disagree with very strongly. They are polarizing comments that we don’t think reflect accurately on the NFL or our players. I obviously do not believe that those comments are positive, and they are divisive. That’s a negative thing for us. I disagree with those comments very strongly and I have told the players that.”
Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank told the AP on Tuesday that the league and the players’ union had a similar stance on Limbaugh. Blank said he wouldn’t expect Limbaugh to tone down his remarks if approved as one of the Rams’ owners.
“I find that highly unlikely,” Blank said to the AP.
Rams senior adviser John Shaw made a brief presentation to the NFL owners Tuesday on the potential sale of the team. Rams owner Chip Rosenbloom did not attend the meetings. Shaw told owners that the Rams hired the Goldman Sachs investment banking and securities firm last spring to explore options regarding the team, including a potential sale. He said team ownership hasn’t concluded that it will sell.
Shaw said Rosenbloom and Lucia Rodriguez — the son and daughter of late owner Georgia Frontiere — were committed to doing what was best for their family, the NFL and St. Louis. Shaw’s status report took only a couple of minutes, after which club owners asked no questions about the potential sale or any potential owners.
Later, Goodell said of the Rams’ presentation, “They gave us a brief update on the process without identifying any of the bidders, but mentioning very clearly there are multiple bidders. It’s really premature for us to speculate on anyone that may or may not be involved in any of the ownership groups at this time because they have not all been fully identified to us.”
If the Rams, as expected, decide to sell and present an ownership group for approval to the league, 24 of the 32 teams must approve the sale. Because it takes only nine “no” votes to scuttle approval, Irsay’s stated opposition to Limbaugh can’t be taken lightly.
Limbaugh confirmed earlier this month that he is part of an ownership group headed by St. Louis Blues owner Dave Checketts, and did so despite a nondisclosure agreement that supposedly prevents potential owners from discussing the sale of the team.
In an e-mail to The Associated Press on Tuesday, Limbaugh said, “... I am happy to be involved in an effort to keep the Rams in St. Louis. I love the National Football League. I eagerly discuss it and promote it, and I greatly admire the men who play in the league. They are the best at what they do. It is regrettable that something I have dreamed about for years has taken this course. But the fight is worth it to me. I love the National Football League.”
Limbaugh was forced to resign from ESPN’s Sunday night football broadcast in 2003 after he said in reference to Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb: “I think what we’ve had here is a little social concern in the NFL. The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well.”
And in 2007, according to transcripts on his Web site, Limbaugh said: “The NFL all too often looks like a game between the Bloods and the Crips without any weapons. There, I said it.”