Giants QB Wilson Fires Back at Ex-Mentor Sean Payton Regarding Jaxson Dart Remarks
NY Giants quarterback Russell Wilson did not hold back on online platforms this Tuesday, reacting to latest comments from his ex-mentor Sean Payton.
"Tasteless... but not shocked...," Wilson declared via social media. "Didn't realize you're still bounty hunting 15+ years later through the media."
Wilson's response directly referenced the notorious Bounty Gate issue from 2009 to 2011, when Payton led the New Orleans Saints.
At that time, the league determined that the Saints had incentivized team members for making hard hits on rival teams. As a result, Payton was suspended from the league for a full year.
What Sparked the Latest Exchange
The quarterback's response came after Payton made remarks following the Broncos' historic 33-32 victory over the Giants. The coach suggested that the team had "discovered new energy" with their new QB, who has replaced Wilson as the starting quarterback.
Additionally, Payton implied that he had informed Giants owner John Mara that he would rather facing Wilson over Dart.
"I was talking to John Mara not too long ago and I said, 'We hoped that change would've happened long after our game,'" the coach stated.
Context of the Coach-QB Partnership
- The quarterback was traded to the Broncos from Seattle in 2022 and signed a five-year, $245 million contract.
- The team finished 4-11 in his debut year before Denver hired Payton, who was coming back to coaching after a stint in TV commentary.
- Payton replaced Wilson 15 games into the 2023 campaign, a decision that ensured the quarterback from getting injured.
If Wilson remained on the roster by spring 2024, his $37 million salary for 2025 would have been locked in. In the end, Wilson was released, ending the ugly split between the player and his mentor.
