Broncos head coach Sean Payton's vendetta against bucket hats is just silly and specific enough to be easy for younger players to exploit.
Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson did just that this week during joint practices between the Jets and Buccaneers. He donned a "Gilligan hat" — as Payton comically called it this week — presumably to offer support for Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett after Payton called out the former Broncos coach during the offseason.
When asked about it, Wilson brushed off the question, though he did answer it somewhat indirectly.
"I was advised not to speak on it," Wilson said, per SNY's Connor Hughes. "Good question though."
Garrett Wilson is asked if he was trolling Sean Payton with his outfit during a sideline interview last weekend:
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) August 16, 2023
"I was advised not to speak on it" 🤫 pic.twitter.com/Q5ubwp2C35
MORE: Broncos 'Gilligan' hat ban, explained
That response is wise, to say the least. The Jets are a lightning rod for attention this offseason, and any more distractions are undoubtedly unwelcome. With the arrival of Aaron Rodgers, the team appearing on Hard Knocks, the hype around second-year players Wilson and Sauce Gardner, and just existing as a team based out of New York, all eyes have been fixated on the Gotham City Football Club this summer.
Payton's arrival in Denver was also not without its fanfare. After working television for a season, Payton's temperament in his return has been a bit more... old-school than people who followed him during his Saints tenure may remember.
James Palmer laid out Payton's rules for players on the sidelines during the preseason. That included a prohibition on sunglasses and bucket hats.
As far as NFL rivalries go, Wilson's jab was a bit of harmless fun. Payton might not be the biggest fan of his outfit, but after his drama with Hackett earlier this offseason, he's probably "advised not to speak" on anything Jets-related himself until they square off in Week 5 of the NFL season.
