DENVER (AP) — Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton insists his recent comments were a shout-out to Jaxson Dart, not a shot at Russell Wilson.

Payton said after Denver’s historic 33-32 comeback win on Sunday that the Giants “found a little spark with” Dart, who became the starter, and hinted that part of a conversation he had with New York owner John Mara included wanting to face Wilson instead.

Wilson fired back Tuesday, calling Payton, for whom he played one ill-fated season in 2023, “classless” and taking a swipe at Payton for the New Orleans Saints' “Bounty-Gate” scandal in 2009-11.

On Wednesday, Payton said it was all a misunderstanding.

“Look, the euphoria, the way that game unfolded, that was strictly about Dart,” Payton said of his postgame comments. “That was in no way shape or form anything that was directed at Russ. And I might be able to see how he might perceive that” it was. “But, coming off that win and watching how he (Dart) played, yeah, that wasn't any intention at all.”

Wilson lost his starting job to Dart following an 0-3 start and Payton said after the game, “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."

Many, including Wilson, saw that as a shot at the backup QB, who was benched by Payton for the final two games of the 2023 season in Denver.

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

Wilson's own jab at Payton referenced the “Bounty Gate” scandal with the Saints. The NFL in 2012 found the team was rewarding players for hits on opponents with intent to injure, and Payton was suspended for a year.

Wilson joined the Broncos via trade from Seattle in 2022 and signed a five-year, $245 million extension. They went 4-11 in his first season before Denver hired Payton, who was returning to coaching following a stint in broadcasting. Payton benched Wilson for the final two games of the 2023 season.

Wilson was released to put an end to the ugly breakup between a veteran coach and player who had each won the Super Bowl separately. Wilson's release saddled the Broncos with an NFL-record $85 million dead cap charge which was spread out over last year ($53 million) and this season ($32 million).

Wilson spent last season with Pittsburgh but was injured when the Steelers beat the Broncos 13-6 behind Justin Fields in Week 2.

The Broncos replaced Wilson with Jarrett Stidham, then drafted Bo Nix with the 12th overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

On Sunday, Nix became the first quarterback in the league's 104-year history to run and throw for multiple touchdowns in a fourth quarter.

Payton drew a penalty for running onto the field in the final minute Sunday when a flag came flying in on Riley Moss' breakup of a pass to Beaux Collins near the goal line.

That moved the ball from the 2 to the 1 and Dart scored on a keeper with 37 seconds left. Kicker Jude McAtamney, however, missed his second extra point of the game, leaving the Giants ahead 32-30 and providing the opening for Nix to move the Broncos into field goal range in just 35 seconds for Wil Lutz's game-winning 39-yard field goal as time expired.

Greenlaw suspension

After the game, linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who had six tackles in 21 snaps of his Denver debut after missing time with a thigh injury, berated referee Brad Allen, drawing a one-game suspension that was upheld Tuesday.

Asked if he had any thoughts on the one-game ban for Greenlaw, Payton said, “Yeah, and they don't really matter, right? We take it, you focus on the things you can control and then you're onto the next game.”

Payton said that sort of thing usually draws a fine but “it was prior precedence, that's all. So, yeah, we were clearly in his corner with the appeal. What normally has been a fine ended up being different. But again, we can't control that.”

Payton said he didn't learn of Greenlaw's interaction with the official until Tuesday morning.

How Christian Braun earned his $125M contract with the Nuggets

DENVER (AP) — There's a different vibe surrounding the Denver Nuggets' latest mega contract, one that will pay shooting guard Christian Braun $125 million over five years.

“It’s good to see somebody that gets it not just off talent but off work,” Denver coach David Adelman said. “And I think that goes a long way in our league. Sometimes you’re guessing of what could happen down the road and you’re paying for that. This has been earned every step of the way.

“Everyone's seen the growth, not just in his game but his confidence.”

The 21st player selected in the 2022 NBA draft out of Kansas, where he won a national title, Braun became a full-time starter last season and averaged 15.4 points, more than double his 7.3-point average from a year before.

He also led the league in fast-break points in 2024-25 and was the only non-center to average 15-plus points and five rebounds while shooting at least 58% from the floor.

The next step in his evolution, said Adelman, whose team opens the season at Golden State on Thursday night, “is just what he's been doing.”

“I think sometimes it’s not about what else can he do? It’s just getting better at what he does well,” Adelman said. “When you start working on things that are outside of, I guess, your game, you can get lost and confused really quickly. So, it’s all about perfecting what you do well to complement your teammates.”

Braun is on that same wavelength.

“I think me being me is good for this team,” he said. “I don’t want to be anybody else. I don’t want to play like anybody else. I just want to be the best version of myself and I think that’s best for the Denver Nuggets.”

Braun said he was relieved to get a deal done by Monday's deadline and is glad he won't be worrying about contract matters for quite some time.

“To be honest, I hated the process,” Braun said, adding: “Negotiations maybe aren't my thing.”

“It is a little stressful,” Braun said. “But like I said, I don’t like negotiations just because you feel like you’re against people you love and people you care about. But I’m just really excited for the way it went down and just really happy that it’s over to be honest.”

Now, he said, “I get to go into the season with a clear mind.”

Loyalty and continuity have been hallmarks of Braun's basketball journey — “I never changed teams in high school or college, I don’t want to change in the NBA,” he said.

“There's not many positions in the NBA where every year you come in and it's title expectations. ... So, I'm really excited to be here for a long time.”

As are his teammates.

“Very excited. You know, they grow up so fast,” Jamal Murray said with a grin.

Murray said it's “super important” to have Braun as part of the Nuggets' core for years to come.

“Congrats to CB. He's earned it. We're excited for what the future holds,” Murray said. “So having him here and him being able to relax a little bit with all the stress and everything that comes with your contract year, I think that will help him.”

Adelman said he takes pride in seeing Braun rewarded after he averaged 4.7 points as a rookie during Denver's title run and started a combined 10 games in his first two seasons before starting 77 times in 2024-25.

“He deserves it,” Adelman said. “It's cool to see somebody go through the program here, be part of winning, be part of hanging the banner and then do all the right things to get rewarded for it. That's what it's supposed to be about and he's been a main cog in what we do ...

“These moments are cool. I know the money is hard to understand from the outside looking in but this is a billion-dollar business and that guy deserves every dollar he's getting just off pure hard work and the ability to know he can get better every day.”