Raleigh, N.C. – PPP’s annual poll about the NFL finds that voters across party lines can agree on one thing- the Cowboys are not ‘America’s Team.’ Just 23% think they deserve that label, to 60% who disagree. And this is one sentiment that doesn’t divide along political lines- 63% of independents, 61% of Republicans, and 57% of Democrats say they don’t consider the Cowboys to be America’s team.
In fact the designation the Cowboys do win out for is America’s least favorite team. 23% say the Cowboys are their least favorite team with no one else coming particularly close- the Bears get 13%, Patriots 9%, Broncos 8%, Steelers 6%, and Giants 5%.
“In a time of unprecedented political division there’s one thing Americans agree on across the board,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “The Cowboys aren’t America’s team- in fact they’re America’s least favorite team.”
When it comes to Americans’ favorite team this year it appears there’s quite a bit of bandwagonism. The Broncos come out on top with 14% to 12% for the Cowboys, 11% Packers, 10% Bears, 8% Patriots and Steelers, 5% Giants, and 4% Saints and 49ers. When we did this same poll in 2011 the Packers were undefeated and came out way ahead of the pack with 22% naming them as their favorite team so we’ve found some inclination in the past for respondents to go with the hot hand.
One thing driving the Broncos’ move to the top is the popularity of Peyton Manning. He’s taken a clear lead as the most popular Quarterback in the NFL with 22% to 13% each for Tom Brady and Robert Griffin III, 9% Drew Brees, 8% Aaron Rodgers, 7% Tim Tebow, 5% Russell Wilson, 4% Eli Manning, and 3% Cam Newton. 62% of Americans have a favorable opinion of Manning to only 9% with a negative one, numbers any politician would die for. Brother Eli at 53/13, Tebow at 52/20, and Brees at 50/10 also hit the 50% favorability number that pretty much no one involved in politics can attain these days.
Brady may have more rings than any of his fellow QB’s, but he also inspires more animosity. 18% say he’s their least favorite QB to 12% for Tebow, 11% for RG3, 7% for Eli Manning, 5% for Peyton and Brees, 4% for Newton, and 3% for Rodgers and Wilson.
PPP surveyed 741 registered voters from December 13th to 17th. The margin of error for the survey is +/- 3.6%. PPP’s surveys are conducted through automated telephone interviews.
Topline results are below. Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.
Q1 Now we’re going to ask some questions about
football. Do you have a favorable or
unfavorable opinion of Tom Brady?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 39%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 23%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 38%
Q2 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Drew Brees?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 50%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 10%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 40%
Q3 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Robert Griffin III?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 34%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 15%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 51%
Q4 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Eli Manning?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 53%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 13%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 33%
Q5 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Peyton Manning?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 62%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 9%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 29%
Q6 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Cam Newton?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 30%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 13%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 57%
Q7 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Aaron Rodgers?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 42%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 10%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 47%
Q8 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Tim Tebow?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 52%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 20%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 28%
Q9 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Russell Wilson?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 30%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 9%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 60%
Q10 Given the choices of Tom Brady, Drew Brees,
Robert Griffin III, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning,
Cam Newton, Aaron Rodgers, Tim Tebow, and
Russell Wilson, who is your favorite NFL
quarterback?
Tom Brady ……………………………………………… 13%
Drew Brees…………………………………………….. 9%
Robert Griffin III ………………………………………. 13%
Eli Manning…………………………………………….. 4%
Peyton Manning………………………………………. 22%
Cam Newton…………………………………………… 3%
Aaron Rodgers………………………………………… 8%
Tim Tebow ……………………………………………… 7%
Russell Wilson ………………………………………… 5%
Someone else/Not sure ……………………………. 16%
Q11 Given the same list of choices, who is your
least favorite NFL quarterback?
Tom Brady ……………………………………………… 18%
Drew Brees…………………………………………….. 5%
Robert Griffin III ………………………………………. 11%
Eli Manning…………………………………………….. 7%
Peyton Manning………………………………………. 5%
Cam Newton…………………………………………… 4%
Aaron Rodgers………………………………………… 3%
Tim Tebow ……………………………………………… 12%
Russell Wilson ………………………………………… 3%
Someone else/Not sure ……………………………. 33%
Q12 Given the choices of the Chicago Bears, Dallas
Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Green Bay
Packers, New England Patriots, New York
Giants, New Orleans Saints, Pittsburgh
Steelers, and San Francisco 49ers, which is
your favorite NFL team?
Bears …………………………………………………….. 10%
Cowboys………………………………………………… 12%
Broncos………………………………………………….. 14%
Packers………………………………………………….. 11%
Patriots ………………………………………………….. 8%
Giants ……………………………………………………. 5%
Saints…………………………………………………….. 4%
Steelers………………………………………………….. 8%
49ers……………………………………………………… 4%
Someone else/Not sure ……………………………. 24%
Q13 Given the same list of choices, which is your
least favorite NFL team?
Bears …………………………………………………….. 13%
Cowboys………………………………………………… 23%
Broncos………………………………………………….. 8%
Packers………………………………………………….. 4%
Patriots ………………………………………………….. 9%
Giants ……………………………………………………. 5%
Saints…………………………………………………….. 3%
Steelers………………………………………………….. 6%
49ers……………………………………………………… 3%
Someone else/Not sure ……………………………. 26%
Q14 Do you consider the Dallas Cowboys to be
‘America’s Team,’ or not?
Do …………………………………………………………. 23%
Do not ……………………………………………………. 60%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 17%
Q15 Do you think the Washington Redskins should
change their nickname, or not?
Do …………………………………………………………. 18%
Do not ……………………………………………………. 71%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 11%
Q16 In the last presidential election, did you vote for
Barack Obama or Mitt Romney?
Barack Obama………………………………………… 47%
Mitt Romney……………………………………………. 44%
Someone else/Don’t remember …………………. 9%
Q17 Would you describe yourself as very liberal,
somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat
conservative, or very conservative?
Very liberal ……………………………………………… 13%
Somewhat liberal …………………………………….. 18%
Moderate………………………………………………… 27%
Somewhat conservative……………………………. 23%
Very conservative ……………………………………. 19%
Q18 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 50%
Man……………………………………………………….. 50%
Q19 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If a Republican,
press 2. If you are an independent or identify
with another party, press 3.
Democrat ……………………………………………….. 39%
Republican……………………………………………… 32%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 29%
Q20 If you are Hispanic, press 1. If white, press 2.
If African-American, press 3. If other, press 4.
Hispanic…………………………………………………. 9%
White …………………………………………………….. 74%
African-American …………………………………….. 12%
Other……………………………………………………… 5%
Q21 If you are 18 to 45 years old, press 1. If 46 to
65, press 2. If you are older than 65, press 3.
18 to 45………………………………………………….. 36%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 42%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 22%
