Giants QB Wilson Fires Back at Former Coach Sean Payton Regarding Quarterback 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. "Had no idea you're still bounty hunting 15+ years later through the media."
Wilson's remarks pointed to the notorious bounty scandal issue from 2009-11, when Payton led the New Orleans Saints.
During that period, the league found that the Saints had rewarded players for making hard hits on opponents. Consequently, Payton was suspended from the NFL for a full year.
What Sparked the Latest Exchange
The quarterback's reaction came after Payton delivered remarks following the Broncos' historic comeback victory over the Giants. Payton suggested that the team had "found a little spark" with Jaxson Dart, who has replaced Wilson as the first-string QB.
Moreover, Payton implied that he had told Giants owner John Mara that he would rather playing against Wilson instead of Dart.
"I spoke to John Mara recently and I said, 'We were hoping that the switch would've happened long after our game,'" Payton stated.
Background of the Coach-QB Relationship
- Wilson was traded to the Denver from Seattle in 2022 and inked a 5-year, $245M extension.
- The team went 4-11 in his debut year before the team hired Payton, who was coming back to coaching after a stint in broadcasting.
- Payton benched Wilson 15 games into the 2023 season, a decision that prevented the player from suffering an injury.
If Wilson stayed on the roster by March 2024, his $37 million salary for the following year would have been locked in. Ultimately, Wilson was released, ending the ugly split between the quarterback and his mentor.
