Jeff Legwold
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton on Wednesday mentioned “on no account, form or type” did he imply to criticize Russell Wilson by saying he had informed Giants officers that he had hoped to face the previous Broncos QB as an alternative of rookie Jaxson Dart.
Payton made the unique remark after the Broncos' inconceivable 33-32 victory towards the Giants on Sunday.
Wilson responded with a post on X on Tuesday, saying “Classless… however not shocked…. Did not understand you are still bounty searching 15+ years later by means of the media,” adopted by laughing emojis and “#LetsRide,” a catchphrase Wilson used at occasions on the finish of his information conferences whereas a member of the Broncos from 2022 to 2023.
“I did [see it],” Payton mentioned Wednesday. “Within the euphoria, the way in which that recreation unfolded, that was strictly about Dart. And that was on no account, form or type something that was directed at Russ. And I would be capable to see how he may understand that. Coming off that win and watching how [Dart] performed, that wasn't any intention in any respect.”
The Broncos scored 33 factors within the fourth quarter Sunday to come back again from a 19-0 deficit. Dart completed the sport 15-of-33 passing for 283 yards and three touchdowns. He additionally threw a expensive interception to Broncos linebacker Justin Strnad with 4:47 to play, and he was sacked 4 occasions.
“I've a ton of respect for [the Giants] group,” Payton mentioned after the sport. “I spent 4 of my early years there coordinating a Tremendous Bowl, first recreation on this stadium earlier than 9/11, shut with the Mara and Tisch household. They discovered just a little spark with that quarterback. I used to be speaking to John Mara not too way back, and I mentioned we had been hoping that change would've occurred lengthy after our recreation.”
Wilson was benched after a Week 3 loss to Kansas Metropolis; Dart has began since.
Wilson was traded by the Seahawks to the Broncos in 2022, however his time in Denver ended abruptly when he was benched by Payton with two video games left within the 2023 season. Wilson, who was 11-19 with the Broncos and did not make the playoffs, was ultimately launched in March 2024 regardless of $85 million in useless cash.
A number of the laborious emotions may stem from Wilson's competition that the Broncos had threatened to bench him earlier within the 2023 season if he didn't waive an harm assure in his contract. On the time, Wilson had $37 million assured if he couldn't cross a bodily on the fifth day of the brand new league yr in March 2024.
After Wilson's launch, Broncos proprietor/CEO Greg Penner denied the crew had threatened to bench Wilson over the assure and mentioned it had tried to barter “in good religion” about any potential contract changes. On the time, Wilson mentioned the NFLPA “acquired concerned” and despatched a letter to the Broncos stating that any such menace could be a violation of the league's collective bargaining settlement.
