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NY Giants signal-caller Russell Wilson did not hold back on social media this Tuesday, responding to latest comments from his former coach Sean Payton.

"Tasteless... but not surprised...," Wilson declared via social media. "Didn't realize 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.

During that period, the league found that the Saints had incentivized players for delivering hard hits on rival teams. Consequently, Payton received a suspension from the league for one season.

The Cause of the Recent Dispute

Wilson's response came after Payton delivered comments following the Broncos' remarkable 33-32 win over the Giants. The coach remarked that the team had "discovered new energy" with Jaxson Dart, who has replaced Wilson as the starting quarterback.

Moreover, Payton hinted that he had informed Giants owner John Mara that he would rather facing Wilson over Dart.

"I spoke to John Mara not too long ago and I said, 'We were hoping that the switch would've happened long after our game,'" Payton commented.

Background of the Coach-QB Partnership

• Wilson joined the Denver from Seattle in 2022 and signed a five-year, $245M contract.
• The Broncos went 4-11 in his first season before the team hired Payton, who was returning to coaching after a stint in TV commentary.
• The coach benched Wilson 15 games into the 2023 campaign, a move that prevented the player from getting injured.

If Wilson remained on the roster by spring 2024, his $37M salary for the following year would have been locked in. In the end, Wilson was released, marking the ugly split between the quarterback and his mentor.