🔗 Share this article Russell Wilson Responds at Ex-Mentor Sean Payton Regarding Jaxson Dart Remarks NY Giants signal-caller Russell Wilson did not hold back on online platforms this Tuesday, reacting to latest criticism from his ex-mentor Sean Payton. "Tasteless... but not shocked...," Wilson stated 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 issue from 2009-11, when Payton was coaching the New Orleans Saints. During that period, the NFL found that the Saints had incentivized players for delivering aggressive tackles on rival teams. Consequently, Payton was suspended from the NFL for one season. What Sparked the Recent Exchange The quarterback's response came after Payton delivered comments following Denver's historic 33-32 victory over the New York. Payton remarked that the Giants had "found a little spark" with their new QB, who has replaced Wilson as the first-string QB. Moreover, Payton implied that he had informed Giants 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 the switch would've happened well after our game,'" Payton commented. Context of the Wilson-Payton Relationship The quarterback was traded to the Broncos from Seattle in 2022 and signed a 5-year, $245 million extension. The Broncos finished 4-11 in his first season before Denver brought in Payton, who was returning to coaching after a period in broadcasting. Payton replaced Wilson 15 games into the 2023 campaign, a move that prevented the quarterback from suffering an injury. Had Wilson remained on the roster by spring 2024, his $37M salary for the following year would have been locked in. Ultimately, Wilson was released, ending the contentious breakup between the quarterback and his mentor.