Russell Wilson Fires Back at Ex-Mentor Sean Payton Over Jaxson Dart Remarks
NY Giants signal-caller Russell Wilson didn't mince words on online platforms this week, responding to latest comments from his ex-mentor Sean Payton.
"Classless... but not surprised...," Wilson stated on X. "Didn't realize you're still bounty hunting 15+ years later through the press."
The quarterback's response pointed to the notorious bounty scandal issue from 2009-11, when Payton was coaching the Saints.
During that period, the league found that the Saints had incentivized players for delivering hard hits on opponents. Consequently, Payton received a suspension from the league for a full year.
What Sparked the Latest Dispute
The quarterback's reaction came after Payton delivered remarks following Denver's remarkable 33-32 victory over the New York. Payton remarked that the Giants had "found a little spark" with their new QB, who has replaced Wilson as the starting quarterback.
Moreover, Payton hinted that he had told team owner John Mara that he would rather facing Wilson over Dart.
"I spoke 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 Wilson-Payton Partnership
- Wilson was traded to the Broncos from Seattle in 2022 and inked a 5-year, $245M extension.
- The team went 4 wins and 11 losses in his debut year before the team brought in Payton, who was coming back to coaching after a stint in TV commentary.
- Payton benched Wilson 15 games into the 2023 campaign, a move that prevented the player from suffering an injury.
If Wilson stayed on the roster by spring 2024, his $37 million salary for 2025 would have been guaranteed. Ultimately, Wilson was let go, marking the ugly breakup between the quarterback and his coach.
