Giants QB Wilson Responds at Former Coach Sean Payton Over Jaxson Dart Remarks
NY Giants quarterback Russell Wilson did not hold back on social media this Tuesday, responding to latest criticism from his ex-mentor Sean Payton.
"Tasteless... but not surprised...," Wilson stated via social media. "Didn't realize you're still offering rewards 15+ years later through the press."
Wilson's remarks pointed to the notorious bounty scandal issue from 2009-11, when Payton led the Saints.
At that time, the league found that the Saints had rewarded team members for delivering hard hits on opponents. Consequently, Payton was suspended from the NFL for one season.
The Cause of the Recent Dispute
Wilson's response came after Payton delivered comments after Denver's historic 33-32 win over the New York. The coach remarked that the Giants had "found a little spark" with Jaxson Dart, who has replaced Wilson as the first-string QB.
Additionally, Payton implied that he had told team owner John Mara that he would prefer playing against Wilson instead of Dart.
"I was talking to John Mara not too long ago and I said, 'We hoped that the switch would've happened well after our game,'" the coach stated.
Context of the Coach-QB Partnership
- Wilson joined the Broncos from Seattle in 2022 and signed a five-year, $245 million contract.
- The Broncos finished 4 wins and 11 losses in his first season prior to the team hired Payton, who was returning to coaching after a period in broadcasting.
- Payton benched Wilson late into the 2023 campaign, a move that prevented the player from suffering an injury.
If Wilson remained on the roster by March 2024, his $37M pay for 2025 would have been guaranteed. In the end, Wilson was released, ending the contentious breakup between the quarterback and his mentor.
