Russell Wilson clapped back with a straight-up response to Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton’s cryptic comment, which seemed to take a shot at the QB. With things heating up fast, Payton had to step in and do some quick damage control. He denied that his comment after the 33-32 win over the New York Giants involved Wilson, who was benched in favor of rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart.

“The euphoria, the way that game unfolded, that was strictly about Dart,” Payton told the reporters. “That was in no way, shape, or form anything that was 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.”

However, it wasn’t hard for people to connect the dots after Payton praised Dart and told the Giants he hoped they’d start Wilson instead after their Week 7 game. “They found a little spark with that quarterback (Dart),” Payton credited the Giants rookie. In fact, his words didn’t end here.

“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.” With this comment, he hinted that he had told the New York owner that he would rather face Wilson than Dart. So, does this mean he hinted that the Broncos would have had an easy win if they had started Wilson instead?

Nevertheless, coach Payton’s comments were criticized by many. Unlike his enigmatic message, Michael Wilbon was rather straightforward as he called out the coach for being a “classless bum.” He, too, felt that was a shot at Wilson.

“That’s what he behaves like … Russell Wilson’s got as many Super Bowl rings as Sean Payton,” Wilbon said on Pardon the Interruption. “And been to one more. And Sean Payton will tell you about the Super Bowl he went to as an assistant and try take credit for that. Who do you think you are? You can’t just take shots at people. I wish Russell Wilson would have gone further.”

Now, given the coach’s past with Wilson, many couldn’t help but connect the dots. The Broncos had once reportedly threatened to bench him in 2023 unless he waived his injury guarantee. And Wilson’s latest comments only added more fuel to the fire.

Russell Wilson dragged up an old incident to call out Sean Payton

Before Payton’s denial comment, Wilson took to X to share his opinion. “Classless… but not surprised,” he wrote about the coach. “Didn’t realize you’re still bounty hunting 15+ years later through the media.” He ended the message with the catchphrase, “#LetsRide,” that he used at press conferences during his brief two-year stint with the Broncos.

But Bounty scandal? With this comment, Wilson may have referred to Payton’s one-year NFL suspension for his involvement in the “Bountygate” scandal (2009-11) when he was the head coach of the New Orleans Saints. During that time, the NFL found that the Saints had rewarded players for hard hits on opponents. Consequently, Payton was suspended from the league for a year.

On the other hand, when Payton joined the Broncos, Wilson’s stint with him ended quickly after he was benched just before the last two games in the 2023 season. The quarterback had 11-19 with the Broncos. The team later released him despite $85 million in dead money.

However, reportedly, there was more to the benching incident, though nothing was confirmed. After the rumors spread, Broncos owner and CEO Greg Penner even denied all such claims. But the old, buried incident resurfaced this week.

Now, the question is whether Payton’s damage control efforts will actually work. We will see!