Giants QB Wilson Responds at Ex-Mentor Sean Payton Over Jaxson Dart Comments
NY Giants quarterback Russell Wilson didn't mince words on social media this Tuesday, reacting to recent comments from his former coach Sean Payton.
"Tasteless... but not shocked...," Wilson declared on X. "Had no idea you're still offering rewards 15+ years later through the press."
Wilson's remarks pointed to the infamous Bounty Gate issue from 2009 to 2011, when Payton was coaching the Saints.
During that period, the league found that the Saints had incentivized team members for making aggressive tackles on rival teams. Consequently, Payton received a suspension from the league for a full year.
The Cause of the Recent Dispute
The quarterback's response came after Payton delivered comments following the Broncos' historic 33-32 victory over the Giants. Payton suggested that the Giants had "discovered new energy" with Jaxson Dart, who has replaced Wilson as the first-string QB.
Moreover, Payton implied that he had informed 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 were hoping that the switch would've happened well after our game,'" Payton stated.
Context of the Wilson-Payton Partnership
- Wilson joined the Denver from the Seahawks in 2022 and signed a five-year, $245 million contract.
- The team went 4 wins and 11 losses in his first season before Denver hired Payton, who was returning to coaching after a stint in broadcasting.
- The coach benched Wilson late into the 2023 campaign, a decision that ensured the player from getting injured.
If Wilson remained on the team by March 2024, his $37 million pay for the following year would have been locked in. In the end, Wilson was let go, marking the ugly split between the player and his mentor.
