Giants QB Wilson Responds at Former Coach Sean Payton Regarding Jaxson Dart Comments
NY Giants signal-caller Russell Wilson did not hold back on online platforms this week, reacting to latest criticism from his ex-mentor Sean Payton.
"Tasteless... but not surprised...," Wilson stated on X. "Had no idea you're still bounty hunting 15+ years later through the press."
The quarterback's response pointed to the infamous Bounty Gate controversy from 2009 to 2011, when Payton led the Saints.
At that time, the league determined that the Saints had incentivized team members for making aggressive tackles on rival teams. Consequently, Payton was suspended from the league for one season.
What Sparked the Recent Dispute
Wilson's reaction came after Payton made comments after the Broncos' historic 33-32 victory over the New York. The coach remarked that the team had "found a little spark" with Jaxson Dart, who has taken over Wilson as the starting quarterback.
Moreover, Payton implied that he had told team owner John Mara that he would rather playing against Wilson instead of Dart.
"I was talking to John Mara recently and I said, 'We were hoping that change would've happened well after our game,'" the coach commented.
Background of the Coach-QB Partnership
- Wilson joined the Broncos from Seattle in 2022 and signed a 5-year, $245 million contract.
- The Broncos went 4-11 in his first season prior to Denver hired Payton, who was coming back to the sidelines after a period in broadcasting.
- The coach replaced Wilson 15 games into the 2023 campaign, a decision that prevented the quarterback from suffering an injury.
Had Wilson stayed on the roster by spring 2024, his $37M salary for 2025 would have been locked in. Ultimately, Wilson was let go, marking the ugly split between the quarterback and his coach.
