Russell Wilson calls out 'classless' Sean Payton for comments - ESPN

Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton was hoping to face former quarterback Russell Wilson when they faced the New York Giants this past Sunday. He got rookie Jaxson Dart instead.

That caught Wilson's attention.

«Classless… but not surprised… Didn't realize you're still bounty hunting 15+ years later through the media,» Wilson wrote on X followed by some laughing emojis and the hashtag #LetsRide, a catchphrase he used at the end of his news conferences while a member of the Broncos from 2022-23.

Wilson was responding to comments made by Payton after Sunday's game, which the Broncos won 33-32 with a thrilling fourth-quarter comeback.

«I have a ton of respect for [the Giants] organization,» Payton said. «I spent four of my early years there coordinating a Super Bowl, first game in this stadium before 9/11, close with the Mara and Tisch family.

»They found a little spark with that quarterback. I was talking to John Mara not too long ago and I said we were hoping that change would've happened long after our game."

The change Payton was referring to was the switch from Wilson to Dart as the starter. The comment seemed to strike a nerve with the usually passive and reserved Wilson.

Wilson went with the «bounty hunting» dig at his former coach. That was in reference to a scandal with Payton's New Orleans Saints team from 2009-11 in which a cash-for-hits bounty program was run by former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams.

Payton was suspended for the entire 2012 season without pay as a result.

Dart became the starter for the Giants last month when Wilson was benched after three games. It has provided life to a once-dormant New York offense. The rookie accounted for four touchdowns on Sunday (three passing, one rushing).

It was a