Sean Payton clarified Wednesday that his post-game comments regarding Broncos quarterback Jaxson Dart were not intended as a criticism of Russell Wilson. Teh remarks followed Denver’s win over the New York Giants on Sunday,a game in which Dart started in place of Wilson.
Payton’s initial comments, made to Giants owner John Mara, suggested he had hoped the quarterback change – referencing Wilson’s benching – would have occurred after the Broncos’ game against the Giants. This sparked a response from Wilson, who called Payton’s remarks ”classless” and alluded to Payton’s past involvement in a bounty scandal. Payton explained Wednesday that his comments were solely focused on Dart’s performance and the positive impact he had on the game. “The euphoria, the way that game unfolded, that was strictly about Dart,” Payton said to reporters. ”That was in no way, shape, or form, anything that was directed at Russ. I might be able to see how he might have perceived that, but coming off that win and watching how [Dart] played, that wasn’t any intention at all.”
The exchange highlights the ongoing tension between Payton and Wilson following a tumultuous start to the season. Wilson was benched after three weeks,with Dart taking over the starting role. Payton’s clarification attempts to de-escalate the situation and refocus attention on the team’s performance, while acknowledging Wilson’s potential misinterpretation of his initial statements. The Broncos are currently evaluating their quarterback situation, and Payton’s comments suggest a continued openness to exploring options beyond Wilson.
