New York Giants signal-caller Russell Wilson didn't mince words on social media this week, responding to latest comments from his ex-mentor Sean Payton.
"Classless... but not surprised...," Wilson declared via social media. "Had no idea you're still offering rewards 15+ years later through the media."
The quarterback's response directly referenced the infamous bounty scandal controversy from 2009 to 2011, when Payton was coaching the New Orleans Saints.
At that time, the NFL found 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.
The Cause of the Recent Dispute
The quarterback's response came after Payton made comments following the Broncos' historic comeback victory over the Giants. The coach 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 informed team owner John Mara that he would prefer playing against 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,'" Payton stated.
Context of the Wilson-Payton Relationship
- The quarterback was traded to the Denver from Seattle in 2022 and inked a five-year, $245 million contract.
- The team went 4-11 in his debut year prior to Denver hired Payton, who was coming back to the sidelines after a stint in TV commentary.
- The coach benched Wilson 15 games into the 2023 campaign, a decision that prevented the quarterback from getting injured.
If Wilson remained on the team by spring 2024, his $37M salary for 2025 would have been guaranteed. In the end, Wilson was let go, ending the contentious split between the player and his coach.
