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Giants quarterback Russell Wilson took some time to respond to comments made by Broncos head coach Sean Payton on Sunday.

"Classless...but not surprised," Wilson wrote on Twitter on Tuesday afternoon. "Didn't realize you're still bounty hunting 15+ years later through the media."

When speaking about the Giants' organization and the respect he had for the team's ownership, Payton praised rookie QB Jaxson Dart for giving the team a spark, but at the same time, put down Wilson and his recent play. 

“They found a little spark with [Dart]. I was talking to John Mara not too long ago, and I said we were hoping that that change would have happened long after our game.”

While Wilson didn't mention Payton by name, it's clear he was responding to the Denver coach for his subtle jab after the Giants' 33-32 loss.

Sean Payton talks about the Giants' organization and his respect for the Mara and Tisch families:

"They found a little spark with that quarterback. I was talking to John Mara not too long ago and I said, 'we were hoping that that change would've happened long after our game.'" pic.twitter.com/Zk7TVXs1xY

— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) October 20, 2025

The bounty hunting line is referencing Payton's part in the New Orleans Saints' "bountygate" scandal when then-defensive coordinator Gregg Williams had a bounty program that rewarded players for certain plays, which included hurting the opposition. Payton was suspended for one year as the program was under his watch.

In his first season with the Giants, the veteran quarterback played the first three weeks, throwing three touchdowns but also three interceptions while failing to give New York a consistent offense. After a 0-3 start, coach Brian Daboll benched Wilson for Dart and the Giants are 2-2 with impressive wins against the Chargers and Eagles under his belt.

But this response is just another chapter in the Payton and Wilson story. Payton was hired by the Broncos ahead of the 2023-24 season, and Wilson was his quarterback. However, he went 7-8 as the starting quarterback, and the Broncos parted ways with Wilson after the season. Wilson would sign with the Steelers and help lead them to a playoff berth before signing with the Giants this offseason.

Jude McAtamney has been released by the New York Giants after he missed two kicks in Sunday's 33-32 defeat by the Denver Broncos.

The 25-year-old former Derry Under-20 gaelic footballer played in four NFL matches for the Giants after an injury to regular kicker Graham Gano.

After being elevated from the practice squad, McAtamney produced a perfect kicking performance as the Giants beat the previously unbeaten Los Angeles Chargers 21-18 at MetLife Stadium, and he followed that up by being part of the team which lost to the New Orleans Saints the next week.

He was unable to be elevated from the practice squad for a third time so had to be signed to the full 53-man roster in order to play against defending Super Bowl champions the Philadelphia Eagles on 10 October.

McAtamney celebrated that call-up as he made four kicks from five attempts as the Giants ran out 34-17 winners over the Eagles.

But he missed two points in the Giants' one-point loss to the Broncos on Sunday as the NY side conceded 33 points in the final quarter.

His future has not been confirmed but he his eligible to return to the Giants' practice roster through exemption as he is part of the NFL's international player pathway programme.

McAtamney helped Derry win an Ulster title in 2020, before moving to the United States to play with Rutgers University.

He joined the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in April 2024, and became the first Irish-born placekicker to feature in a regular NFL game since 1985 when he stepped in for the injured Gano against the Washington Commanders in November.

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Russell Wilson isn’t happy with his former head coach.

Wilson called out Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton on social media on Tuesday over comments he made following their win over Wilson and the New York Giants on Sunday. Wilson even made a “bounty gate” reference, bringing up the scandal that led to Payton being suspended for the entire 2012 season.

“Classless … but not surprised,” Wilson wrote. “Didn’t realize you’re still bounty hunting 15+ years later through the media.”

The issue apparently stemmed from comments Payton made on Sunday after the team’s wild 33-32 win over the Giants, in which he praised rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart — who replaced Wilson earlier this season. Payton did not mention Wilson by name.

“They found a little spark with that quarterback,” Payton said. “I was talking to [Giants co-owner] John Mara not too long ago, and I said, ‘We were hoping that change would’ve happened long after our game.’”

Now in Payton’s defense, the Giants have found a little spark with Dart running their offense. After an 0-3 start with Wilson at quarterback, the team made the switch to Dart and immediately won two of their next three games — one of which came against the defending Super Bowl champions. They nearly beat the Broncos, too, but gave up 33 points in the fourth quarter alone and blew an 18-point lead.

In his four games as a starter, Dart has thrown for seven touchdowns and three interceptions while completing just better than 60% of his passes. But more importantly, he’s got the Giants their first two wins of the year.

Clearly, though, Wilson still has issues with his former head coach. Wilson spent two seasons with the Broncos, one of which when Payton led the team, and they went just 7-8 under his watch before Payton benched him in favor of Jarrett Stidham. The Broncos later released Wilson, and took an $85 million hit in dead money after initially signing him to a five-year deal. That led to Wilson landing with the Pittsburgh Steelers for a year before eventually signing with the Giants.

Clearly, even a few years later, Wilson and Payton still aren’t on good terms. But with Dart now leading the way in New York, Wilson didn't get the chance to beat his former coach on the field this fall. And at this point in his career, he may not get that opportunity.