Since news of their Covid breach broke on Monday morning, Jordan Jones and George Edmundson have been the major talking point in Scottish football.
Confirmation that Rangers had suspended the pair after they attended a house party has led to condemnation of their behaviour from all quarters, amid speculation that they might never kick another ball for the club.
While there is universal agreement that the players have let Rangers down, there are some like former Ibrox captain Barry Ferguson who believe they deserve a second chance.
Others, such as Ferguson's one-time team-mate Kris Boyd, insist there can be no way back for the rule-breakers.
© Rangers FC/PA Images Speaking in Record Sport, Ferguson argued that the pair should be allowed the opportunity to win back their manager's trust.
He said: "Trust goes a long way in football.
"And right now Jones and Edmundson will be hoping Rangers trust them enough to give them a second chance.
"At the moment, that's? probably far from certain but I hope for both their sakes that this incident doesn't end their Rangers careers.
"I'm a great believer in second chances - that's probably because I was given so many of them myself!
"And even though Steven Gerrard must be tearing his hair out I hope he finds it within himself to forgive? them and to move on. Punish them, yes - they deserve to? be disciplined - but then give them the chance to win back some trust."
Ferguson did, however, admit he's "struggling to get my head around how they could have been so stupid and so selfish".
He added: "Trust me on this one boys, it's a long way back from here."
There was little sympathy from former Celtic centre-forward Chris Sutton. Speaking on the Record Celtic Podcast, he said: "What a couple of clowns they are. Steven Gerrard and the Rangers hierarchy must be absolutely furious with the whole thing."
He added: "It seems like Rangers have handled the situation really well."
Speaking in his Daily Mail column, nine-in-a-row legend Brian Laudrup spoke of the potentially serious consequences that could have played out had the pair's breach not come to light before they interacted with team-mates.
The Dane said: "If Jones and Edmundson had done this a number of months ago, you could have said it was early days and players like a lot of people were still learning how they had to behave in the pandemic.
© SNS Group "But we are now three months into the Premiership season.
"And eight months on from the start of the first lockdown in the UK. In Scottish football, we have seen the previous situations involving the Aberdeen players and Boli Bolingoli at Celtic.
"All professional players and all clubs across the world now know how they are supposed to act.
"At Rangers, that message must have been reinforced so many times by the club doctor and others within the training ground. Jones and Edmundson can hardly say they weren't warned.
"It's one thing potentially putting themselves at risk. That's bad enough.
"But if the Rangers squad hadn't been given some time off after the weekend, or if this breach hadn't been discovered, they could have been going back into a dressing room where they would be interacting with colleagues.
"It could have had really serious consequences."
Those fears were echoed by Boyd, who told the Scottish Sun : "Had they been due to train on Monday morning then chances are they wouldn't have switched on their disco lights. But it's just as well for them that they got caught.
"Can you imagine the uproar had they waltzed into the training ground yesterday morning, and it didn't emerge they had been to a party until later in the week?
"Rangers are very lucky in that regard. They were obviously tipped off about things and were able to act swiftly.
"Had that not happened - and Jones and Edmundson mixed with other players - then this whole thing would be ten times worse."
Jones' former Kilmarnock team-mate fails to see a way back for the pair. He said: "I can't see any way back for the pair after this.
© SNS Group "Jones and Edmundson are not young kids any more. They should have known better and deserve all that's coming to them.
"Maybe Rangers will go easy. Maybe they'll wrap their knuckles and fine them a few weeks' wages for stepping out of line.
"But if you're asking me if there is any way back for them, then I have to say I can't see it.
"In my opinion, we won't see them in a light blue jersey again. Chances are, they will be shipped out as soon as the transfer window opens.
"It's an issue of trust. And I suspect Steven Gerrard will take a dim view of two players who weren't thinking about the team when they decided it was time to party.
"I played with Jordan at Kilmarnock and he deserved to get his move to Rangers. He earned it for his performance and I was delighted for him.
"But to throw it away like this baffles me.
"These lads must have seen the outrage with (Boli) Bolingoli and the boys at Aberdeen.
"They must have known what was in store if they got caught.
"And in this day and age, moving under the radar as an Old Firm player in Glasgow is virtually impossible. The way I see it, though, that won't be something they need to worry about soon enough."