Domenik Hixon Returns to New York Giants

He's back.

The New York Giants have confirmed that Domenik Hixon, who missed the entire 2010 NFL regular season due to an ACL tear that occurred in June, has signed a contract extension with the team. Hixon was one of the NFL's best kick returners in 2009, breaking numerous Giants single-season records during that year.

The press release quotes Hixon as saying "I thank God and I feel very blessed that I have an opportunity to come back to the New York Giants." He went on to say ""I feel real comfortable, I feel strong. I was joking with one of my buddies. We were running together and I told him, 'I feel like I gained a step.'"

The team sorely missed Hixon's services during the 2010 campaign, as the Giants were ranked 31st in both kickoff and punt returns. One of the players who struggled mightily trying to fill in for Hixon, Darius Reynaud, also signed an extension with the team on Thursday. Reynaud misplayed several punts last season and eventually ended up splitting return duties with running back D.J. Ware.

If Hixon is truly 100 percent and can be the returner of old, this signing could be one of the more important transactions of the current offseason. The Giants desperately need a returner and Reynaud just didn't get the job done. Too often last season, the New York offense started in poor filed position due to the lack of a solid return game. Hixon, if healthy, should take care of that problem.

It will be interesting to see if Reynaud fits in with the team's plans once a new CBA is in place. Roster size is hardly a concern for teams right now so Reynaud receiving a small extension isn't a big deal. With both D.J. Ware and Hixon returning, however, Reynaud may be the odd man out come this fall.