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NY Giants quarterback Russell Wilson did not hold back on social media this Tuesday, reacting to latest comments from his ex-mentor Sean Payton.

"Classless... but not shocked...," Wilson stated via social media. "Had no idea you're still bounty hunting 15+ years later through the media."

Wilson's response pointed to the infamous Bounty Gate issue from 2009-11, when Payton was coaching the New Orleans Saints.

At that time, the NFL found that the Saints had rewarded players for making aggressive tackles on rival teams. As a result, Payton was suspended from the league for a full year.

What Sparked the Recent Dispute

The quarterback's reaction came after Payton delivered comments after Denver's historic comeback win over the Giants. Payton remarked that the team had "found a little spark" with their new QB, who has replaced Wilson as the first-string QB.

Additionally, Payton implied that he had informed team owner John Mara that he would rather facing Wilson instead of Dart.

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

Background of the Wilson-Payton Relationship

• The quarterback joined the Denver from the Seahawks in 2022 and inked a five-year, $245 million extension.
• The Broncos finished 4 wins and 11 losses in his debut year before the team brought in Payton, who was returning to the sidelines after a stint in TV commentary.
• The coach replaced Wilson 15 games into the 2023 campaign, a decision that prevented the quarterback from getting injured.

Had Wilson stayed on the team by March 2024, his $37M salary for the following year would have been locked in. Ultimately, Wilson was let go, marking the ugly split between the player and his coach.