Well, at least we know there are still some things you can't say on cable. Apparently the combination of "race", "quarterback" and "NFL" is not allowed.
As for Rush standing by his opinion, I heard him yesterday and he didn't back off. He made the point that his comments were directed at sportswriters, not at McNabb directly. He said McNabb was overrated. Personally, I think McNabb is pretty effective at times. Other times, like the Pats game, he looks very average. Even Philly fans were calling for the backup who won games for them last year. Basically, it was a stretch for Rush to draw the conclusion he did, because I'm not sure writers have made that big a deal over McNabb, plus McNabb has delivered results at times.
However ESPN's reaction was utterly cowardly. They dropped Rush like a bad habit and issued some ass-covering criticism of him. Who did they think they had hired, Martha Stewart?
Then I saw McNabb whining on TV and I could only think, this is the ultimate outcome of the PC nonsense. He was acting like Rush had said that he was too dumb to play quarterback because he was black. If that was what he got out of Rush's comments, maybe he is. Of course, they said that about Terry Bradshaw until he put on four Super Bowl rings, and everyone thought it was funny.
Obviously, it was a dumb thing for Rush to say. Conversatives who are allowed on TV are expected to say only noncontroversial things, unless they have their own show on Fox. The lesson from all this is unless you are independently wealthy, don't be foolish enough to utter any comment on any PC subject or they will destroy your career.