New York Giants cornerback Russell Wilson responded to Sean Payton on social media Tuesday after his former coach questioned his abilities over the weekend.
“Classless…but not surprised…” Wilson said of Payton X: “Didn't know 15+ years later you were still bounty hunting through the media.”
Wilson was reference to the Bounty Gate scandal from 2009 to 2011, when Payton led the New Orleans Saints. The NFL found that the Saints rewarded players for hitting opponents hard, and Payton was suspended from the league for a year.
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Wilson was outraged by Payton's comments on Sunday after Denver's historic 33-32 comeback win over New York. Payton said the Giants “found a little spark” in Jackson Dart, who replaced Wilson as the team's starting quarterback and revived the offense. Payton also hinted that he told New York owner John Mara that he would rather face Wilson than Dart.
“I was talking to John Mara not too long ago and I said, ‘We were hoping that the change would come much later in our game,’” Payton said.
Wilson joined the Broncos from Seattle in 2022 and signed a five-year, $245 million extension. They went 4-11 in his first season before Denver hired Payton, who was returning to coaching after working in television.
Payton benched Wilson 15 games into the 2023 season, a move that ensured the quarterback wouldn't suffer an injury. If Wilson were on the roster by March 2024, his $37 million salary for 2025 would be guaranteed. Wilson was then released to end the ugly rift between the quarterback and his coach.
