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NY Giants signal-caller Russell Wilson didn't mince words on social media this Tuesday, responding to recent comments from his former coach Sean Payton.

"Classless... but not surprised...," Wilson declared via social media. "Had no idea you're still offering rewards 15+ years later through the press."

Wilson's remarks pointed to the notorious Bounty Gate issue from 2009 to 2011, when Payton led the Saints.

At that time, the NFL found that the Saints had incentivized team members for delivering hard hits on opponents. As a result, Payton was suspended from the league for a full year.

The Cause of the Latest Exchange

Wilson's response came after Payton delivered comments after the Broncos' historic comeback win over the Giants. The coach remarked that the Giants had "found a little spark" with their new QB, who has taken over Wilson as the starting quarterback.

Additionally, Payton hinted that he had told Giants owner John Mara that he would prefer facing Wilson instead of Dart.

"I spoke to John Mara recently and I said, 'We hoped that change would've happened well after our game,'" Payton stated.

Context of the Wilson-Payton Relationship

• Wilson was traded to the Denver from the Seahawks in 2022 and inked a five-year, $245M contract.
• The Broncos went 4-11 in his debut year prior to Denver hired Payton, who was returning to the sidelines after a stint in broadcasting.
• Payton replaced Wilson 15 games into the 2023 season, a move that prevented the quarterback from getting injured.

If Wilson stayed on the roster by spring 2024, his $37M pay for 2025 would have been guaranteed. In the end, Wilson was let go, ending the ugly split between the quarterback and his coach.