Field Gulls
It’s safe to say that the Russell Wilson/Sean Payton beef still exists.
The Seattle Seahawks great and former Denver Broncos quarterback left the Broncos on bad terms after he was benched by Sean Payton with two weeks left in the 2023 regular season. Denver wasn’t mathematically eliminated from the playoffs yet, but reportedly the Broncos threatened to bench Wilson in October (when they were 1-5) over injury guarantee money. Wilson was released by the Broncos in 2024 and he’s currently with the New York Giants as the backup to Jaxson Dart, who replaced Wilson due to poor performance in Week 4.
Dart played a significant role in the Giants giving the Broncos all they could handle in an utterly chaotic and preposterous 33-32 loss. Payton may have taken a shot at Russell Wilson without mentioning his name, but it could easily be interpreted as praise for Dart.
“They found a little spark with [Jaxson Dart]” Payton said Sunday. “I was talking to [Giants owner] John Mara not too long ago, and I said we were hoping that that change would have happened long after our game.”
Of course, Wilson has had two visits to Denver since his Broncos departure and hasn’t played due to either injury or serving as the backup. Nevertheless, Wilson clapped back in a way we never see him clap back.
“Classless… but not surprised…. Didn’t realize you’re still bounty hunting 15+ years later through the media. #LetsRide”
Obviously “bounty hunting” refers to the BountyGate scandal with the New Orleans Saints, which led to Payton not coaching the entirety of the 2012 season. He returned in 2013 and led the Saints to the playoffs, only to be eliminated by Wilson and the eventual Super Bowl champion Seahawks in the NFC Divisional Round.
Maybe late-career, benched Russell Wilson is more willing to be this pointed toward others in public. Or maybe it’s just a Sean Payton thing, which would be something considering he reportedly wanted Pete Carroll and John Schneider fired and Payton hired by the Seahawks.
