NY Giants signal-caller Russell Wilson did not hold back on social media this Tuesday, reacting to recent comments from his former coach Sean Payton.
"Classless... but not surprised...," Wilson declared via social media. "Had no idea you're still offering rewards 15+ years later through the media."
The quarterback's response pointed to the infamous bounty scandal issue from 2009 to 2011, when Payton led the Saints.
At that time, the league found that the Saints had incentivized players for delivering aggressive tackles on opponents. As a result, Payton was suspended from the league for one season.
The Cause of the Latest Dispute
Wilson's reaction came after Payton made remarks after the Broncos' historic comeback victory over the Giants. The coach suggested that the team had "found a little spark" with Jaxson Dart, who has taken over Wilson as the starting quarterback.
Additionally, Payton implied that he had informed team owner John Mara that he would prefer playing against 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,'" Payton stated.
Context of the Wilson-Payton Partnership
- Wilson was traded to the Denver from the Seahawks in 2022 and signed a 5-year, $245 million extension.
- The Broncos went 4 wins and 11 losses in his debut year before the team brought in Payton, who was coming back to coaching after a period in TV commentary.
- Payton replaced Wilson late into the 2023 campaign, a decision that ensured the player from getting injured.
Had Wilson stayed on the roster by March 2024, his $37M salary for 2025 would have been locked in. Ultimately, Wilson was let go, marking the contentious split between the player and his mentor.
