It's not surprising that many football fans have yet to forgive Michael Vick about his dogfighting past. It is a little more surprising that they still harbor ill-will toward Manti Te'o for his fake-girlfriend episode.
Forbes released a poll of the Most Disliked Players in the NFL. Vick, who was arrested in 2007 and served an 18-month prison sentence for his role in a dogfighting ring, earned the No. 1 spot.
But in second place sits Te'o, the San Diego Chargers rookie who apparently has yet to live down his incident involving a made-up girlfriend last year while he was in school at Notre Dame that exploded just prior to the Fighting Irish's BCS title game against Alabama.
The poll measures the likability of players through public opinion.
By most accounts, Te'o was said to have been duped into believing his relationship with the fictitious woman was real, but the fact that he finished second in the poll, ahead of Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger reveal that fans may still not be convinced he wasn't in on the hoax or can't believe he's that gullible.
Suh's reputation as a dirty player has increased each season he has been in the league, and Roethlisberger still has sexual-assault allegations in his past.
Compounding Te'o likability problem is the fact Te'o missed most of September with a foot injury he suffered in fall camp and has been unable to use his play to overcome his past. In fact, his relatively unimpressive start to his NFL career may be adding to his popularity woes.
The website The Inquisitr compares Te'o's plight to that of quarterback Tim Tabor, who's very public Christian beliefs have made him a polarizing figure. The poll shows, the website argues, that fans "appreciate players that don't make waves."
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