Poll: 41 percent of voters surveyed believe Patriots cheated

A poll of 612 registered voters conducted by Public Policy Polling found that 41 percent of those surveyed believe the New England Patriots cheated during the AFC Championship Game.

A poll of 612 registered voters conducted by Public Policy Polling found that 41 percent of those surveyed believe the New England Patriots cheated during the AFC Championship Game against the Indianapolis Colts.

Twenty-seven percent of those surveyed do not believe the Patriots cheated, while 32 percent are unsure. 

Sixty-four percent said they consider themselves an NFL fan, and of that group, 50 percent believe New England cheated, compared to 28 percent who think they did not.

• Kurt Warner: Deflategate adds doubt to Pats' Super Bowl XXXVI victory

The NFL reportedly found that 11 of the Patriots' 12 footballs from the AFC title game were under-inflated by two pounds of air pressure during the first half. Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady have both denied involvement in "Deflategate."

On Monday, it was reported that the league's inquiry is now focused on a Patriots locker room attendant who was in possession of game balls before kickoff. It is unclear if the attendant committed any wrongdoing.

• ROSENBERG: Deflategate's legacy destined to live on in NFL's theater of the absurd

The Patriots will face the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX on Sunday, and 29 percent of those surveyed said they are rooting for the Patriots, with 36 percent pulling for the Seahawks and 35 percent not sure.

- Molly Geary