Giants QB Wilson Fires Back at Former Coach Sean Payton Over Jaxson Dart Comments
New York Giants signal-caller Russell Wilson didn't mince words on online platforms this Tuesday, reacting to latest comments from his former coach Sean Payton.
"Classless... but not shocked...," Wilson stated on X. "Didn't realize you're still offering rewards 15+ years later through the media."
Wilson's remarks pointed to the notorious Bounty Gate controversy from 2009-11, when Payton was coaching the Saints.
During that period, the league found that the Saints had incentivized players for making hard hits on rival teams. As a result, Payton received a suspension from the NFL for a full year.
The Cause of the Latest Dispute
Wilson's reaction came after Payton delivered remarks following Denver's historic comeback win over the Giants. The coach suggested that the team had "found a little spark" with their new QB, who has replaced Wilson as the first-string QB.
Additionally, Payton implied that he had told Giants owner John Mara that he would prefer facing Wilson over Dart.
"I spoke to John Mara not too long ago and I said, 'We were hoping that change would've happened long after our game,'" Payton stated.
Background of the Coach-QB Relationship
- Wilson joined the Denver from Seattle in 2022 and signed a 5-year, $245M contract.
- The team finished 4 wins and 11 losses in his debut year before the team hired Payton, who was returning to the sidelines after a stint in TV commentary.
- Payton benched Wilson 15 games into the 2023 season, a decision that ensured the player from suffering an injury.
Had Wilson stayed on the team by March 2024, his $37M pay for the following year would have been locked in. In the end, Wilson was let go, ending the ugly breakup between the quarterback and his mentor.
