Giants QB Wilson Fires Back at Ex-Mentor Sean Payton Over Quarterback Comments
New York Giants signal-caller Russell Wilson didn't mince words on online platforms this Tuesday, responding to latest criticism from his former coach Sean Payton.
"Classless... but not shocked...," Wilson stated via social media. "Didn't realize you're still bounty hunting 15+ years later through the media."
The quarterback's remarks pointed to the infamous bounty scandal controversy from 2009 to 2011, when Payton was coaching the New Orleans Saints.
During that period, the NFL found that the Saints had incentivized players for making hard hits on opponents. As a result, Payton was suspended from the league for one season.
What Sparked the Latest Dispute
Wilson's reaction came after Payton made comments after Denver's historic comeback win over the Giants. Payton 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 informed team owner John Mara that he would prefer playing against Wilson instead of Dart.
"I spoke to John Mara recently and I said, 'We hoped that change would've happened well after our game,'" the coach commented.
Background of the Wilson-Payton Relationship
- Wilson was traded to the Denver from Seattle in 2022 and inked a 5-year, $245M contract.
- The team went 4 wins and 11 losses in his first season before the team hired Payton, who was coming back to the sidelines after a stint in TV commentary.
- Payton benched Wilson 15 games into the 2023 season, a move that ensured the quarterback from suffering an injury.
Had Wilson remained on the team by March 2024, his $37M salary for the following year would have been guaranteed. Ultimately, Wilson was released, marking the ugly breakup between the quarterback and his coach.
