Looks like Dino Babers is in charge of the Colts’ roster decisions now

As a seventh round pick, former Syracuse Orange linebacker Zaire Franklin gets few guarantees in the NFL. If Dino Babers had anything to do with it, however, the three-year defensive captain would definitely make the cut.

By the sound of it, Babers might as well be the Indinapolis Colts GM.

Speaking to Dan Dakich on 1070 The Fan today, he had high praise for Franklin, and a bold statement about his ability to make the roster:

“The guy is absolutely solid as a rock and there is no way in hell he’s getting cut. If there’s odds in Vegas -- let me find out what the odds are -- you can’t cut the kid. He’s uncuttable.”

“Uncuttable” sounds like the prequel to “Unbreakable” with Bruce Willis, no?

In any case, Babers has basically taken over the Colts front office, because I wouldn’t dream of cutting Zaire now, after a statement like that.

More of your Syracuse-related links below.

Dino Babers: ‘No way in hell’ Colts will cut former Syracuse LB Zaire Franklin (Syracuse.com)

There are freak athletes, like Lawrence Taylor, who possess outstanding athletic ability, Babers said. Then there are good athletes with high intelligence and toughness; players who perform consistently and rarely create distractions off the field. That’s Franklin, Babers said.

Former Syracuse football DB Devin Butler signs with CFL’s Calgary Stampeders (Syracuse.com)

Former Syracuse football defensive back Devin Butler has signed with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League, he announced on Thursday.

Former Syracuse football safety Rodney Williams transferring to Temple (Syracuse.com)

Williams started 21 games over three-plus seasons with the Orange, seeing time at both safeties positions and recording 125 tackles and two interceptions. He received a medical redshirt for a lower-body injury suffered in the second game of his freshman year. The Cherry Hill, N.J., native was one of four defensive backs to leave SU this offseason, along with Daivon Ellison (Duquesne), Cordell Hudson (Middle Tennessee State) and Juwan Dowels.

The rise of the true freshman QB (ESPN)

Not all spreads are created equal, though, and it leads to a common misnomer, according to Syracuse coach Dino Babers: The spread didn’t directly give rise to the emergence of freshman quarterbacks. “The spread where you want to run, that’s just a wider version of the option,” said Babers, whose spread system helped transform Jimmy Garoppolo at Eastern Illinois.

Who Syracuse should root for to maximize chance of making the NCAA tournament? (Daily Orange)

Syracuse finds itself in a peculiar situation. The Orange swept ACC play in the regular season, beating Duke and Virginia on the road and taking down Notre Dame and North Carolina at home. SU is also the only team in the country to win two games against teams ranked in the top five in RPI. That is one side of Syracuse.

Khalif Battle, younger brother of Syracuse’s Tyus Battle, commits to Butler (Syracuse.com)

Syracuse basketball schedules campus visit for 2018 prospect Robert Braswell (Syracuse.com)

Syracuse football: Top 10 QBs in school history (Inside the Loud House)

Why grad transfer Brock Stull is an ideal fit for Virginia (ACC Sports)

Today’s music selection: