by: Barkley Truax 6 minutes ago BarkleyTruax
Dec 24, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton talks with quarterback Russell Wilson (3) before the game against the New England Patriots at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
The Denver Broncos scored 33 points in the fourth quarter to defeat the New York Giants 33-32 in a miraculous comeback. During the postgame press conference, head coach Sean Payton appeared to throw a bit of shade toward Giants QB Russell Wilson .
Wilson, who played for Payton for one season with the Broncos, called his former head coach “classless,” but that he wasn’t surprised. He also called out the Broncos headman for “bounty hunting through the media,” in reference to the bounty scandal tied to Payton during his time leading the franchise.
On Wednesday, Payton said that he saw the comments from his former QB. Payton clarified that his own comments were directed in praise of Giants rookie QB Jaxson Dart , stating that the former Ole Miss star provided the team with a spark since he’s been in.
Wilson was bench in favor of the first-round draft choice after three games. Payton also said that he told Giants owner John Mara that he had wished the QB change “would have happened long after our game.”
“The euphoria, the way that game unfolded, that was strictly about Dart,” Payton told reporters on Wednesday. “That was in no way, shape or form directed at Russ. I might be able to see how he would perceive that. But coming off that win and watching how he played. That wasn’t any intention at all.”