Popular US radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh has resigned from sports cable network ESPN, several days after making controversial remarks about a black National Football League player.
Mr. Limbaugh, who worked as a commentator on ESPN's NFL Countdown show, said Sunday that Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb is overrated because the media wanted to see a black quarterback succeed.
Mr. Limbaugh, who said the remarks were not racially motivated, said Wednesday he resigned so he could no longer be a distraction to the ESPN show.
The sports netowrk said it accepted Mr. Limbaugh's resignation.
Civil rights groups had demanded Mr. Limbaugh leave ESPN, while Democratic presidential candidates Wesley Clark, Howard Dean and Al Sharpton called on the network to fire him.
McNabb, who has led the Eagles to two straight conference championship games, said Mr. Limbaugh's remarks on race were inappropriate.