America delivers Deflategate verdict: Patriots are cheaters

PHOENIX — America has spoken, and it thinks the Patriots are lying cheaters.

That was the verdict from a nationwide poll this week of Americans who by a big margin don't buy New England's explanation for Deflategate and are now pulling for the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX on Sunday.

The NFL is continuing an investigation that won't wrap up for weeks to determine how all 12 of the Patriots' footballs were reportedly deflated in the AFC Championship Game, but much of the sporting public appears to have already made up its mind and found Bill Belichick's team guilty as charged.

The Public Policy Polling survey of 612 voters also showed the controversy has taken its toll on the Patriots' national popularity and Belichick's reputation.

New England now has the lowest favorability rating of any NFL franchise (30 percent) of any team in the PPP poll, although the Cowboys remained just ahead of the Patriots for the title of NFL's most-hated team for the fourth year in a row.

It's little surprise, then, that the country is pulling for Seattle to repeat as Super Bowl champs by a 36-29 margin in percentage, according to the poll.

"Americans think the Patriots cheated in the AFC championship game and they're rooting for the Seahawks on Sunday," PPP president Dean Debnam said in a statement. "But Deflategate hasn't been enough for the Patriots to surpass the Cowboys as the most hated team in the NFL."

Football fans surveyed were most adamant Belichick and the Patriots cheated.
According to the poll, 41 percent of respondents believe New England intentionally deflated footballs below the league limit in its 45-7 win over the Colts in the AFC title game.

Just 27 percent buy into the Patriots' loud and convoluted claims of innocence, while 32 percent had no opinion.

As a result, Belichick's favorability rating in the poll plummeted to just 21 percent, while a hefty 34 percent of the respondents view the Patriots boss as unfavorable.
Surprisingly, football fans aren't holding Tom Brady responsible for the scandal — or, at least, they're not holding it against him. Brady's favorability rating dipped just two percent (to 37 percent) from a similar PPP poll conducted this time last year.
The science community doesn't believe Belichick, either.

Attorneys working on the NFL investigation contacted the physics department at Columbia last week to serve as consultants on "matters related to gas physics," according to the New York Times.

Columbia physicist William Zajc told the paper he was "amused" by Belichick's attempt Saturday to blame the deflated footballs in part on atmospheric effects.

"I think it's more likely than not that they were manipulated," Zajc said.
It's not just Deflategate that has turned Belichick and the Patriots into America's biggest villains, either.

Former Super Bowl-winning Ravens coach Brian Billick, now an NFL Network analyst, told The Post on Wednesday a victory Sunday is vital to Belichick if he hopes to repair his reputation in the wake of Spygate and now the deflated-ball allegations.

The reason, according to Billick, is that Belichick hasn't won a Super Bowl since the Patriots were caught spying on opponents in 2007 after winning three Lombardi Trophies in four years before Spygate.

"That's a pretty glaring difference [of Super Bowl wins pre-Spygate vs. post-Spygate]," Billick said. "I would say in light of that, it would behoove Belichick to win this game Sunday to show that he didn't need [to cheat] to win."

The people have spoken

Public Policy Polling surveyed 612 Americans last week about Deflategate and the majority of those who have made up their minds believe the Pats are guilty. Here's a look:

Do you think the Patriots cheated in the AFC Championship Game?
Yes 41%, No 27%, Not sure+32%

Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the Patriots?
Favorable 30%, Unfavorable 38%, Not sure 33%

Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of the Seahawks?
Favorable 45%, Unfavorable 20%, Not sure 36%

Who are you rooting for in the Super Bowl?
Patriots 29%, Seahawks 36%, Not sure 35%

Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Bill Belichick?
Favorable 21% Unfavorable 34% Not sure 45%

Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Tom Brady?
Favorable 37% Unfavorable 25% Not sure 37%

Source: Public Policy Polling
Notes: The survey was conducted from Jan. 22-25. Margin of error +/- 4 percent. 80 percent of interviews were conducted by phone with 20 percent conducted online to reach people without land lines.

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