CBS Pulls the Plug on Rihanna For Ravens/Steelers Game

CBS has pulled the plug on a song in the pre-game show that will air before the Ravens game Thursday night ... and even though CBS isn't acknowledging it ... it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out a song featuring Rihanna wouldn't sit well.

CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus says, "We thought journalistically and from a tone standpoint, we needed to have the appropriate tone coverage."

The material that was axed ... a comedic segment featuring Don Cheadle doing a narration over Jay Z's song "Run This Town" featuring Rihanna.

The segment will be replaced by a discussion of Roger Goodell's recent comments about the Ray Rice incident.

Obviously ... Rihanna is a domestic abuse victim and it would be awkward to play her music.