Well, it actually happened. Tom Brady, one of the NFL’s premier quarterbacks, was suspended for four games as punishment for his part in Ballghazi and his failure to cooperate with the investigation.
Predictably, reactions on Twitter have been running the gamut. Let’s start with Brady’s Patriots teammates. Which side of the issue do you think they’re taking? LeGarrette Blount, your thoughts:
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS!!! SMH 😡 #PATSNATION STAND UP!!!!!
— LeGarrette Blount (@LG_Blount) May 11, 2015
Safety Patrick Chung, how would you classify this disciplinary decision?
Fukin ridiculous
— Patrick Chung (@PatrickChung23) May 11, 2015
How about linebacker Dont’a Hightower?
…..😑
— Dont'a Hightower (@zeus30hightower) May 11, 2015
Disappointment and resignation, got it. Honorary Patriot David Ortiz, what say you?
David Ortiz on Tom Brady suspension: "They [F'd] up on that one."
— Jason Mastrodonato (@JMastrodonato) May 11, 2015
Big Papi and Roger Goodell probably shouldn’t sit next to each other at the ESPYs.
Do players on other NFL teams stand with their Patriots counterparts, united in their defense of Brady’s innocence?
Well done @NFL ……….#DeflateGate
— Patrick Peterson /P2 (@P2) May 11, 2015
Nah.
https://twitter.com/J_Shaw26/status/597880482248855552
Eli Manning, the only quarterback to beat Brady in the Super Bowl, doesn’t have a Twitter account. But the New York Daily News‘ Paul Schwartz managed to get his thoughts on the matter.
More Eli on Brady: "In no way am I glad to see this happen."
— Paul Schwartz (@NYPost_Schwartz) May 11, 2015
Eli: "If someone's breaking the rules I understand you're gonna get punished for it."
— Paul Schwartz (@NYPost_Schwartz) May 11, 2015
Since Deflategate, Eli has experimented with a slightly deflated football. "There is a noticeable difference," he said.
— Paul Schwartz (@NYPost_Schwartz) May 11, 2015
We need Eli to be a guest host of Sports Science since he did the legwork.
Meanwhile, SportsCenter anchor John Buccigross published his hot take in the morning to get ahead of the story.
If Tom Brady is suspended (I grew up Steelers fan) Patriots fans should unite & NOT go to opening night game. Just don't go/Stay home #balls
— BucciOT.Com (@Buccigross) May 11, 2015
So, would he double down and start a hashtag calling for a boycott? Nah, but he isn’t toe-ing the NFL’s line either:
What a joke
— BucciOT.Com (@Buccigross) May 11, 2015
A lot of people had to point out the discrepancy between Ray Rice’s initial punishment and Brady’s discipline, like Bruce Feldman:
So the NFL just suspended Tom Brady for twice as long as it did Ray Rice about a year ago at this time.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) May 11, 2015
Of course, Florida State blogger David Visser took the opportunity to bang their Jameis-shaped gong:
Games suspended: #JameisWinston 1#TomBrady 4
But guess which one has "character issues."— David Visser (@DavidBVisser) May 11, 2015
NFL Network’s Adam Rank provided a unique angle worthy of a golf clap from Tony Romo trolls:
So basically Tom Brady was suspended one game for every Super Bowl he's won.
On an unrelated note, Tony Romo is eligible for whole season.
— Adam Rank (@adamrank) May 11, 2015
Of course, there are the crazy, self-promoting radicals screaming to be noticed and stopping just short of invoking the Illuminati:
https://twitter.com/KatieLKieffer/status/597883934492463104
They had no definitive proof against Tom Brady or #patriots. If Hillary doesn't have to produce Emails, why should Tom? Very unfair!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 11, 2015
So now that Ballghazi’s all wrapped up (just kidding, this will dominate the news cycle for days), what’s next?
