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Keller @ Large: Let The Patriot Haters Hate

BOSTON (CBS) - According to a national survey by Public Policy Polling, 53-percent of Americans will be rooting for the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, even though I bet 98-percent of them couldn't name a single Falcon.

Just 27-percent want the Patriots to win. Only 19-percent of those polled have a negative view of the Falcons; more than double that, 42-percent, view the Pats negatively.

No surprise here.

When you are a sports dynasty over a long period of time, all the losers build up a good head of hate. It happened to the Celtics and the Yankees too.

Back in the NFL, even though they haven't won a Super Bowl in 22 years, residual resentment of the once-dominant Dallas Cowboys is strong enough to put them in a virtual tie with the Pats for most-hated team, 21-to-19 percent.

And you know what? I understand the Pats hatred – as long as it's based on envy and frustration with their consistent success.

It's human nature to resent the winners when you're always the loser; we Red Sox fans get that.

But I have no use for the fans out there who hate the Pats because of you-know-what-Gate and the myth, endlessly perpetuated by single-digit IQ sports-talk hosts and ESPN analysts, that the Pats are somehow more ethically challenged than other NFL teams.

Yes, the Patriots have made mistakes – Coach Bill Belichick has acknowledged he ignored a league rule about where a camera could be located to tape game action. You-know-what-Gate, however, was a total crock.

I would challenge anyone to prove, using real facts, that the Pats are one iota less honest than any other team.

So let the haters hate.

I prefer to kick back and enjoy it as the winners continue to win.

Listen to Jon's commentary:

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