Giants QB Wilson Fires Back at Ex-Mentor Sean Payton Regarding Jaxson Dart Remarks
NY Giants signal-caller Russell Wilson did not hold back on online platforms this week, reacting to recent comments from his former coach Sean Payton.
"Classless... but not shocked...," Wilson stated via social media. "Had no idea you're still offering rewards 15+ years later through the press."
Wilson's response directly referenced the notorious Bounty Gate issue from 2009 to 2011, when Payton was coaching the Saints.
During that period, the league found that the Saints had rewarded team members for making hard hits on rival teams. Consequently, Payton was suspended from the NFL for a full year.
What Sparked the Recent Exchange
Wilson's response came after Payton made remarks after the Broncos' historic comeback victory over the New York. Payton remarked that the team had "found a little spark" with their new QB, who has replaced Wilson as the first-string QB.
Moreover, Payton hinted that he had informed Giants owner John Mara that he would rather facing Wilson instead of Dart.
"I was talking to John Mara not too long ago and I said, 'We hoped that change would've happened well after our game,'" Payton stated.
Background of the Coach-QB Partnership
- Wilson joined the Broncos from the Seahawks in 2022 and inked a five-year, $245M extension.
- The team went 4 wins and 11 losses in his debut year before Denver hired Payton, who was coming back to the sidelines after a stint in TV commentary.
- Payton benched Wilson 15 games into the 2023 campaign, a move that prevented the quarterback from getting injured.
Had Wilson stayed on the team by March 2024, his $37M salary for the following year would have been locked in. In the end, Wilson was let go, ending the ugly split between the player and his mentor.
