Poll Watch: Rasmussen Survey on NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and the Suspensions of New Orleans Saints Coaches

Rasmussen Poll on Roger Goodell and the Suspensions of Sean Payton and Greg Williams

How closely have you followed recent news stories about the New Orleans Saints?

• Very closely 30%
• Somewhat closely 32%

Were the suspensions and punishment given to the Saints coaches too severe, not severe enough or was it about right?

• Too severe 20%
• Not severe enough 21%
• About right 46%

Do you have a very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable, or very unfavorable impression of Roger Goodell?

• Very favorable 16%
• Somewhat favorable 29%
• Somewhat unfavorable 23%
• Very unfavorable 9%

National survey of 801 football fans was conducted March 26, 2012. The margin of error is +/- 3.5 percentage points.

Inside the numbers:

Fifty percent (50%) of white football fans and 55% of fans of other races feel the punishment given to the Saints coaches is about right, but just 18% of blacks agree. Thirty-six percent (36%) of black fans think the punishment is too severe.

Men are slightly more likely than women to feel the coaches’ punishments were too severe. Adults ages 18 to 39 are more inclined to believe their punishments were too harsh compared to their elders.

Seventy-one percent (71%) of male football fans are following stories about the New Orleans Saints closely, as are 52% of female fans.