Tom Brady Ranks at 8th Least Popular NFL Player in 2013

Oct 6, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) warms up before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

It’s no secret people hate the New England Patriots. They were already hated before “spygate” happened because of their three Super Bowl championships and league dominance for the most part in the last decade. Ever since “spygate” came to light, however, everyone is quick to call the Patriots cheaters despite their continued success, arguably even more so than pre-spygate if you ignore the rings. Perhaps it is this reason that Tom Brady came in at #8 on the Forbes list of the most unpopular NFL players for this season. According to them, Brady has a 25% dislike among NFL fans.

Anyone that isn’t a Patriots fan has likely suffered heartbreak at Brady’s hands since he boasts a 158-48 record during his 14 years in the league, which could also contribute to his unpopularity. Why then is Peyton Manning not on this list? Manning is in many TV commercials and has a relaxed demeanor that comes across as very friendly and easy going. Brady isn’t quite so natural behind a camera (unless he’s on the football field) and looks somewhat stoic. Brady also has the 3 rings, the supermodel wife, giant house, and the looks to go with them. He’s not a guy people can relate to easily, unlike Peyton who is perceived as a family man.

November 5, 2012; New Orleans, LA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick (7) against the New Orleans Saints during the second half of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Saints defeated the Easgles 28-13. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

The strange thing about Brady ranking so low in popularity is that the rest of the players in the bottom 10 with him have actually done something worthy of fan hate, unlike him. Michael Vick, the #1 disliked player this year, was involved in dog fighting and spent time in prison before joining the Eagles. Although this was a few years ago, people must not have forgotten and combined that with his frequent injuries and decreased level of play. Ben Roethlisberger came in at #4 since the sexual assault charges tainted his image. Another strange ranking was Manti Te’o at #2, ahead of Ndamukong Suh and Mark Sanchez, since he has only played in a few NFL games. Apparently his fake girlfriend scandal at Notre Dame irked people enough to hold a serious grudge.

Check out the rankings here and share your thoughts!