Sean Payton said he didn’t intend for his comments about the New York Giants’ quarterback situation after Sunday’s win to be taken as a slight to Russell Wilson.
The former Broncos quarterback, benched earlier this year by Giants coach Brian Daboll in favor of rookie Jaxson Dart, clearly didn’t see it that way.
He took to social media Tuesday and called Payton “classless,” adding, “but not surprised. … didn’t realize you’re still bounty hunting 15-plus years later through the media.” The second part, of course, is a reference to Payton being suspended for the entire 2012 season after the Bounty Gate scandal in New Orleans.
Payton said he only meant to talk about Dart’s impact since replacing Wilson in the starting lineup when he said, “They found a little spark with that quarterback. I was talking to (Giants owner) John Mara not too long ago, and I said, ‘We were hoping that change would’ve happened long after our game.’”
On Wednesday, Payton said, “In the euphoria and the way that game unfolded, that was strictly about Dart.
“That was in no way, shape or form anything that was directed at Russ. I might be able to see how he might perceive that, but coming off that win and watching how (Dart) played, yeah, that wasn’t any intention at all.”
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