Roethlisberger still popular in Pa.: Poll

PITTSBURGH, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- A majority of Steelers fans still like quarterback Ben Roethlisberger despite rape accusations, a new poll finds.

Fifty-four percent of Western Pennsylvania residents hold a "favorable" view of Roethlisberger while a quarter disapprove, a survey done by Susquehanna Polling & Research for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

A 20-year-old woman accused Roethlisberger on March 5 of assaulting her in a bar restroom. Investigators found insufficient evidence to prosecute, but he was suspended for four games. Another woman is charging rape in a lawsuit in Nevada.

In an April poll, 22 percent of fans wanted Roethlisberger traded.

Roethlisberger was unavailable for comment, and his agent, Ryan Tollner, did not respond.

In the new poll, 57 percent of men and 52 percent of women liked Roethlisberger. Fewer than half of fans between 30 and 44 held a favorable opinion, but 64 percent of those over age 60 did.

The survey of 915 adults was carried out by phone Dec. 21-22 with a margin of error was 3.24 percentage points.

"A lot of guys did worse than he did," said Baldo Long, 78, of Delmont, Pa., noting that Roethlisberger was convicted of no crime.