Russell Wilson Fires Back at Ex-Mentor Sean Payton Regarding Jaxson Dart Remarks
New York Giants signal-caller Russell Wilson did not hold back on online platforms this week, reacting to latest criticism from his ex-mentor Sean Payton.
"Classless... but not shocked...," Wilson declared via social media. "Had no idea you're still bounty hunting 15+ years later through the media."
The quarterback's remarks directly referenced the notorious bounty scandal issue from 2009-11, when Payton led the Saints.
At that time, the NFL found that the Saints had rewarded players for making aggressive tackles on opponents. As a result, Payton was suspended from the NFL for one season.
The Cause of the Latest Exchange
The quarterback's reaction came after Payton delivered comments after Denver's remarkable 33-32 win over the New York. Payton suggested that the Giants had "found a little spark" with their new QB, who has taken over Wilson as the first-string QB.
Additionally, Payton implied that he had told team owner John Mara that he would rather facing Wilson instead of Dart.
"I was talking to John Mara recently and I said, 'We were hoping that change would've happened well after our game,'" the coach commented.
Background of the Coach-QB Partnership
- The quarterback joined the Denver from Seattle in 2022 and signed a 5-year, $245 million contract.
- The Broncos finished 4 wins and 11 losses in his first season before Denver brought in Payton, who was coming back to coaching after a stint in TV commentary.
- The coach benched Wilson late into the 2023 season, a move that ensured the quarterback from suffering an injury.
If Wilson remained on the team by March 2024, his $37 million pay for 2025 would have been guaranteed. Ultimately, Wilson was released, marking the ugly breakup between the quarterback and his mentor.
