Giants ink new punter
The Giants have a new punter. Big Blue acquired Riley Dixon from the Broncos Friday in exchange for a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2019 draft, according to NFL Network. Dixon, 24, was drafted by the Broncos in 2016 out of Syracuse. In two seasons with Denver, he had a 41.8-yard net average on his kicks. The Giants cut Brad Wing, who was their punter from 2015 to 2017, earlier in the offseason.
— Nicholas Parco
KAROLYIS: WE DIDN’T KNOW
Former USA Gymnastics women’s national team coordinator Martha Karolyi and husband Bela tell NBC they were unaware of the abusive behavior by a former national team doctor now serving decades in prison. Martha Karolyi led the national team for 15 years before retiring after the 2016 Rio Olympics. She told Savannah Guthrie in “no way” did she suspect Larry Nassar was sexually abusing athletes under the guise of treatment. “The whole gymnastics community couldn’t recognize this,” Martha Karolyi said in an excerpt provided to The Associated Press on Friday by NBC. “Everybody said, ‘Larry Nassar is a good doctor. Larry Nassar is a good guy.”’ The Karolyis have been named as co-defendants in several civil lawsuits filed against Nassar and USA Gymnastics. Several victims, including twotime Olympic medalist McKayla Maroney, say they were abused at the Karolyi’s Ranch near Houston.
FLYERS TRIP PENS
Sean Couturier’s long shot from the point got past Matt Murray with 1:17 left and the host Philadelphia Flyers beat the Pittsburgh Penguins, 4-2, to force sixth game in the firstround series. The Flyers cut the Penguins’ series lead to 3-2 going into Game 6 on Sunday in Philadelphia. After missing Game 4 with a lower-body injury, Couturier extended his team’s season at least two more days by picking up his second goal of the series.
l Jacob Trouba, Bryan Little, Brandon Tanev and Joel Armia scored in the first 11:59 to chase Minnesota goalie Devan Dubynk and the host Winnipeg Jets beat the Wild, 5-0, to win a playoff series for the first time in franchise history.
l Sven Andrighetto scored with 1:28 left to give the Colorado Avalanche a 2-1 victory over the host Nashville Predators 2-1, sending the first-round series back to Denver.
OSU’s BRUCE DEAD AT 87
Former Ohio State football coach Earle Bruce has died at his home in central Ohio. The College Football Hall of Fame member was 87. Bruce followed Woody Hayes as coach and compiled an 81-26-1 record. His teams won or shared in four Big Ten titles in between 1979 and 1987.
ARSENAL’S WENGER RETIRES
Arsene Wenger is leaving Arsenal after more than 21 years, ending a revolutionary reign that saw him introduce new methods to the Premier League and become the club’s most successful manager.