Limbaugh is out as potential owner

Conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh has been dropped from a group seeking to buy the St. Louis Rams.

Limbaugh was to be a limited partner in a bid led by St. Louis Blues Chairman Dave Checketts, but Checketts said in a statement Wednesday that Limbaugh’s participation had complicated the effort. The group will move forward without him.

Checketts, the chairman of SCP Worldwide, announced that Limbaugh had been dumped toward the end of a news release.

Limbaugh said on his radio show earlier Wednesday that he had been inundated with e-mails from listeners who supported him in the bid.

“This is not about the NFL, it’s not about the St. Louis Rams, it’s not about me,” Limbaugh said. “This is about the ongoing effort by the left in this country, wherever you find them, in the media, the Democrat Party, or wherever, to destroy conservatism, to prevent the mainstreaming of anyone who is prominent as a conservative.”

Limbaugh’s bid ran into opposition from within the image-conscious NFL on Tuesday when Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay said he would vote against the radio personality. Commissioner Roger Goodell said the commentator’s “divisive” comments would not be tolerated from any NFL insider.

The move was hailed by the Rev. Al Sharpton, one of the most vocal critics of Limbaugh’s bid.

“It is a moral victory for all Americans -- especially the players that have been unfairly castigated by Rush Limbaugh,” Sharpton said in a statement.

“This decision will also uphold the unifying standards of major sports.”

Steelers lose Smith

Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Aaron Smith will miss the rest of the season with a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder, an injury that significantly weakens what was the NFL’s best defense the last two seasons.

Safety Troy Polamalu returned to practice after missing four games with a knee injury.

Vinatieri hurting

Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri will be out four to eight weeks after having arthroscopic surgery on his right knee and the team waived starting defensive tackle Ed Johnson to make room for kicker Matt Stover.

QB updates

Cincinnati quarterback Carson Palmer, who sprained the thumb on his non-throwing hand against Baltimore, went through a full practice and said he would not be affected when the Bengals play the Houston Texans on Sunday.

Colts quarterback Peyton Manning said his sore left knee is no longer an issue. Manning said he hurt the knee late in the first half of Sunday’s victory at Tennessee.

Detroit’s Matt Stafford returned to practice after missing Sunday’s loss to Pittsburgh with a knee injury.

It’s not clear whether Stafford has a shot at playing against Green Bay this weekend.

Etc.

Cleveland Browns Coach Eric Mangini said he’s not trying to trade quarterback Brady Quinn, who lost his starting job after only 10 quarters this season. . . . Linebacker Junior Seau came out of retirement for a third time by re-signing with the New England Patriots. Seau, 40, is a 12-time Pro Bowler. . . . The San Diego Chargers released starting strong safety Clinton Hart in order to sign defensive tackle Ian Scott.

San Francisco wide receiver Michael Crabtree will make his NFL debut at Houston on Oct. 25 following the team’s off week. . . . Allen Rossum, released by the 49ers to make room for Crabtree, signed with Dallas. The defensive back is expected to return kicks for the Cowboys. . . . The Minnesota Vikings dropped former USC quarterback John David Booty from the practice squad to make room for offensive tackle Clint Oldenburg. Booty was a fifth-round draft pick last year.