Giants QB Wilson Responds at Ex-Mentor Sean Payton Over Jaxson Dart Comments
NY Giants signal-caller Russell Wilson didn't mince words on social media this Tuesday, responding to recent criticism from his ex-mentor Sean Payton.
"Classless... but not shocked...," Wilson declared via social media. "Didn't realize you're still offering rewards 15+ years later through the media."
The quarterback's response directly referenced the infamous bounty scandal controversy from 2009-11, when Payton was coaching the New Orleans Saints.
During that period, the league found that the Saints had incentivized players for making aggressive tackles on rival teams. As a result, Payton was suspended from the NFL for one season.
The Cause of the Latest Dispute
The quarterback's response came after Payton made remarks following the Broncos' historic 33-32 win over the Giants. The coach remarked that the team had "discovered new energy" with Jaxson Dart, who has taken over Wilson as the starting quarterback.
Moreover, Payton implied that he had told Giants owner John Mara that he would rather playing against Wilson over Dart.
"I spoke to John Mara recently and I said, 'We were hoping that the switch would've happened long after our game,'" Payton commented.
Context of the Coach-QB Relationship
- The quarterback joined the Denver from the Seahawks in 2022 and signed a five-year, $245M contract.
- The Broncos went 4-11 in his debut year prior to Denver brought in Payton, who was coming back to coaching after a stint in TV commentary.
- The coach replaced Wilson 15 games into the 2023 season, a decision that prevented the player from getting injured.
If Wilson remained on the roster by March 2024, his $37M pay for 2025 would have been guaranteed. Ultimately, Wilson was let go, ending the ugly breakup between the player and his mentor.
