🏈 The Touchdown Collective: 'Classless' war of words ramping up in New York

Russell Wilson and Sean Payton get into it, Justin Fields hammered too, plus CJ Stroud's room for improvement all feature to keep you ahead of the game, one play at a time

In today’s Touchdown Collective there’s the latest on a couple of cheap shots in Press Coverage, George Pickens is on the mic in Get to the Post, while Inside Zone has the scoop on the Ravens’ locker room woes.

Russell Wilson warms up (Pic: Kevin Sabitus via Getty Images)

📰 Press Coverage

New York Giants

Russell Wilson has seemingly clapped back at former coach Sean Payton, who said he wanted to face his former QB last Sunday.

“I’m close with the Mara and Tisch families, and they found a little spark with that quarterback,” Payton said on Sunday. “I was talking to John Mara not too long ago, and I said we were hoping that that change would have happened long, long after our game.”

Payton’s reference to “that quarterback” is, of course, Jaxson Dart, who earlier this season replaced Wilson as the Giants starter.

Wilson, without mentioning Payton by name, made his feelings known on social media, while referencing the “BountyGate” scandal which happened on Payton’s watch as New Orleans head coach.

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

Check out the full post, including some hilarious responses here.

New York Jets

Jets owner Woody Johnson says he sees “more hope” than the average person amid another season of struggles - but took a dig at QB Justin Fields, saying: “If we could complete a pass, it would look good.”

Ouch.

Johnson doubled down as well, having also backed coach Aaron Glenn. “I do believe in Aaron,” he said. “If I were a player I’d respond to him, because he’s the real deal.”

It’s fair to say he wasn’t as complimentary of Fields, adding: “It’s hard when you have a quarterback with a rating that … he has the ability but something is just not jiving.

“But if you look at any head coach with a quarterback like that you’re going to see similar results if you go across the league, you have to play consistently at that position and that’s what we’re going to try to do for the remainder of the season.”

Fields, of course, was replaced by Tyrod Taylor at half-time last week and Glenn has said he will “continue to look at” the QB situation this week.

If Fields does start against the Bengals on Sunday, we’ll see whether Johnson’s comments were a help or hindrance.

My money’s on the latter.

Minnesota Vikings

Being on a short week has played into the decision to stick with Carson Wentz as QB for the Vikings as they play the Chargers tomorrow, coach Kevin O’Connell said.

Starter JJ McCarthy is still limited after a high ankle sprain and tomorrow’s game will be the fifth in a row he has missed.

“We’re all kind of encouraged about where he’s at, and the progress he’s making,” O’Connell said. “But he’s just not there.

“It’s some of the movements, the reactionary movements within the pocket. Being able to use his athleticism to protect himself in the pocket and then as he’s able to work through progressions.”

That call came after O’Connell and the Vikings medical staff put McCarthy through a series of tests yesterday morning

Houston Texans

Head coach DeMeco Ryans says CJ Stroud has to step up his game as the Texans deal with another loss, this time to Seattle.

Sitting at 2-4, 2025 has not got off to a great start and Ryans, along with Stroud, is chasing an immediate improvement.

“CJ has to do a better job of running the offense,” Ryans said, via Aaron Wilson of KPRC in Houston. “Not about one person, it’s everybody collectively. He falls under that category as well.”

Stroud has also seen where improvements can be made but is still trying to get the offense under his control, especially when taking less chances down the field.

He said: “The type of offense we’re running is, like I told you all, death by a thousand cuts. Sometimes when you live by a sword it’s hard because you’re not taking a bunch of deep, down the field shots, but you’re asked to be really good on first, second down time and time again.

“Something that we’ve got to get better at. It’s still new to a lot of us, but I definitely think we can be better at that and it will help.”

Las Vegas Raiders

Jakobi Meyers says he “for sure” still wants to be traded before the November 4 deadline.

The Raiders WR requested a trade before the season which never materialised and he has 29 catches for 329 yards through the first seven games.

Asked about the possibility of leaving Vegas, Meyers said, per ESPN’s Ryan McFadden: “I got no control over that. If I’m here, I’m here.”

And when asked about whether his preference was still to leave, he added: “Oh, for sure. But I’m a professional at the end of the day. I’m just trying to play good football.”

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⏱️ Game clock

This week’s NFL fixtures

Press conference picks of the week

Cowboys v Broncos

✮ Cowboys – CeeDee Lamb: 2025 offense is the best I’ve been on

🐴 Broncos – Quinn Meinerz: We’re building a culture

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↗ Get to the Post

GP on the 🎤

@dallascowboysGeorge Pickens mic’d up is as good as expected 🎙️ #DallasCowboys #GeorgePickens #NFL #micdup #football

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“It’s 3rd down, dumb***”

@philadelphiaeaglesGo easy on the rook #eagles #nfl #micdup #zackbaun #jihaadcampbell

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We’ve all been here…

@bleacherreportThis Jets fan is going through it 😢 (via @dandremac) #nfl #football #jets #fan

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🤫 Inside Zone

The Baltimore Ravens have taken away all the “fun” locker room activities after their poor start to the season, with video games, ping pong, a basketball hoop and cornhole boards among the casualties, report the Baltimore Sun.

The Raiders say they are not planning to trade Maxx Crosby as rumours about a potential move to the Dallas Cowboys picks up pace.

Giants kicker Jude McAtamney was released by the team after missing two extra points in Sunday’s loss to the Broncos.

The Falcons have released veteran WR Ray-Ray McCloud. He was inactive for Sunday’s game against the 49ers after having been dismissed from practice on Friday with what coach Raheem Morris called an “excused absence”.

Linebacker Dre Greenlaw‘s one-game suspension for unsportsmanlike conduct - toward a referee - after Denver’s win on Sunday has been upheld on appeal, the league announced yesterday.

Brandon Graham has ended his retirement and rejoined the Philadelphia Eagles after calling time on his career at the end of last season with a Super Bowl win. He could even play this weekend.

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📩 Who am I? I’m Michael Ham, the Daily Star Sunday and Sunday Express Sports Editor – and an avid NFL fan. I have almost 20 years of experience in sports news journalism and I’m the writer behind The Touchdown Collective.

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