Giants QB Wilson Responds at Former Coach Sean Payton Over Jaxson Dart Remarks
NY Giants quarterback Russell Wilson did not hold back on social media this Tuesday, reacting to latest criticism from his ex-mentor Sean Payton.
"Tasteless... but not shocked...," Wilson declared via social media. "Had no idea you're still bounty hunting 15+ years later through the media."
The quarterback's remarks directly referenced the infamous bounty scandal controversy from 2009-11, when Payton was coaching the New Orleans Saints.
During that period, the league found that the Saints had incentivized players for delivering hard hits on rival teams. Consequently, Payton was suspended from the league for a full year.
What Sparked the Latest Dispute
The quarterback's reaction came after Payton made remarks following Denver's remarkable 33-32 victory over the Giants. The coach remarked that the team had "found a little spark" with Jaxson Dart, who has replaced Wilson as the starting quarterback.
Moreover, Payton hinted that he had told Giants owner John Mara that he would prefer facing Wilson over Dart.
"I was talking to John Mara not too long ago and I said, 'We hoped that the switch would've happened well after our game,'" the coach commented.
Context of the Coach-QB Partnership
- Wilson was traded to the Broncos from Seattle in 2022 and signed a five-year, $245 million extension.
- The team went 4-11 in his debut year prior to the team brought in Payton, who was coming back to coaching after a period in TV commentary.
- The coach benched Wilson 15 games into the 2023 season, a decision that ensured the quarterback from getting injured.
Had Wilson remained on the roster by spring 2024, his $37M salary for the following year would have been guaranteed. In the end, Wilson was released, ending the contentious breakup between the quarterback and his coach.
