Former Saints React To Deflategate Punishment On Twitter

When the NFL announced the New England Patriots punishment for deflategate on Monday afternoon, the reaction was as strong as it was mixed.

A 4 game suspension of quarterback Tom Brady, a $1 million team fine, the loss of their 2016 first round draft pick and 2017 fourth round pick may seem harsh, lenient, and fair.

It all depends on perspective and point of view.

For example, several former members of the New Orleans Saints who were on the wrong end of punishments for bountygate three years ago obviously felt like the punishment for deflategate was light in comparison.

Former Saints linebacker Scott Fujita takes a shot at Patriots owner Robert Kraft with a clever quip.

Former Saints defensive end Will Smith played 10 seasons with New Orleans, signed with the Patriots last offseason, and was cut by the Pats last August. His tweet regarding the punishment of Brady would seem vague coming from a player with no ties to bountygate and/or the Saints and Patriots, but Smith doesn't fit that criteria.

Former Saints linebacker Scott Shanle's reaction was as conspicuous as it was forthright.

The reaction from current members of the Patriots was understandably different.

New England running back LeGarrette Blount doesn't agree with Brady's suspension.

Blount's teammate, defensive end Chandler Jones, stuck with a single emoticon to express his disappointment.

His emoticon is a good description of how the Patriots fan base reacting to former LSU All-American and current Arizona Cardinal cornerback Patrick Peterson's tweet of the news.

The initial reaction to deflategate has been predictable, but that doesn't make it boring.

It's ironic to see opposing fans respond with similar vitriol toward NFL commissioner Roger Goodell's verdict.

While Saints fans are angry for the magnanimous penalty of the Pats, New England fans are just as upset at Goodell for his savagely cruel punishment.