Riley Dixon returns to New York so he can start stiff-arming defensive backs again

We all know former Heisman contender and Syracuse Orange punter Riley Dixon is great. But apparently the Denver Broncos didn’t get the memo. As we mentioned recently, Denver signed Marquette King to replace the future NFL MVP.

That could’ve meant Riley was a free agent, but instead, he’ll get to land on his feet in some familiar-ish territory. The Broncos traded Dixon to the New York Giants for a seventh-round pick, effectively making him the Big Blue starter barring other offseason (free agency/draft) moves.

It’s great to have Dixon back in New York (New Jersey...), and as a Giants fan, I’d now actively consider buying his jersey. Hopefully he requests 44.

The rest of your Syracuse-related links below:

Is the NBA G League becoming a major threat to the college game? (The Athletic)

Darius Bazley will occasionally play this season in modern arenas with healthy crowds, but that will be a far cry from the 30,000-plus who would have cheered him on in the Carrier Dome. Most big-time college programs travel by charter; G League teams fly commercial. The G League has an all-star game, a midseason showcase and a 12-team playoff, but those are dwarfed by the scale and the lore of the NCAA Tournament.

Giants acquire punter Riley Dixon from Broncos (USA Today)

Dixon has two years remaining on his rookie contract and is slated to earn $670,000 against the salary cap in 2018. The Giants, who had one of the worst special teams units in football last season, released the under-performing Brad Wing, a good friend of wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., earlier this year.

NBA draft departures shake up Way-Too-Early Top 25 (ESPN)

To remain ranked this high, the Orange will need Tyus Battle -- a projected late first-round pick -- to announce his return. The sophomore was Syracuse’s leading scorer (19.2 PPG) and has not signed with an agent. Oshae Brissett (14.9 PPG, 8.8 RPG) is officially back, as is Frank Howard, so if Battle returns, Jim Boeheim will have the personnel to build upon last season’s Sweet 16 finish.

What’s next for Syracuse basketball’s Tyus Battle after declaring for NBA Draft? (Syracuse.com)

April 27: Invitations to the NBA Combine go out. These invitations result from polling NBA executives about which players they’d like to see in Chicago, site of the combine. Last year, approximately 70 players participated in the combine, though high lottery picks usually skip the 4-day scouting bonanza. Battle will likely be invited to the combine. Players who do not get combine invites should understand they very likely will not be drafted.

Second Theta Tau video shows mimed sexual assault of person with disabilities (Daily Orange)

By the Numbers: Syracuse Targets at EYBL Dallas (247Sports)

Alicia Hansen’s home runs help Syracuse lock down an ACC Tournament berth (Daily Orange)

Steve Wilks awed by Chandler Jones in practice (USA Today)

Rebuilding Kent State is No. 126 in 2018 preseason college football rankings (Orlando Sentinel)

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