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

"Tasteless... but not surprised...," Wilson declared on X. "Had no idea you're still offering rewards 15+ years later through the press."

Wilson's response pointed to the notorious Bounty Gate controversy from 2009 to 2011, when Payton was coaching the Saints.

During that period, the NFL determined that the Saints had incentivized players for delivering hard hits on opponents. Consequently, Payton was suspended from the league for a full year.

What Sparked the Latest Dispute

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

Moreover, Payton implied that he had told team owner John Mara that he would rather playing against Wilson over Dart.

"I was talking to John Mara recently and I said, 'We were hoping that change would've happened long after our game,'" the coach stated.

Context of the Coach-QB Partnership

• Wilson was traded to the Broncos from Seattle in 2022 and signed a five-year, $245M contract.
• The team went 4 wins and 11 losses in his debut year before the team brought in Payton, who was returning to the sidelines after a period in TV commentary.
• The coach benched Wilson late into the 2023 campaign, a move that prevented the player from suffering an injury.

If Wilson stayed on the roster by spring 2024, his $37 million salary for 2025 would have been locked in. Ultimately, Wilson was let go, marking the contentious split between the quarterback and his coach.