Getty Image
The Buffalo Bills are under fire over the handling of the Matt Araiza situation.
On Thursday, the LA Times reported that Araiza and two of his San Diego State college teammates had been accused of gang-raping a 17-year-old girl in a civil lawsuit.
Breaking: A civil lawsuit filed Thursday in state court accuses three San Diego State University football players — including Matt Araiza, a top punter now in the NFL — of gang raping a 17-year-old girl last year at an off-campus party. https://t.co/gdfvXTlVK4
— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) August 25, 2022
A civil lawsuit filed Thursday in state court accuses three San Diego State University football players — including a top punter now in the NFL — of gang-raping a 17-year-old girl last year at an off-campus party.
Matt Araiza, 22, whose powerful and precision kicking in college earned him the moniker “Punt God,” was accused of having sex with the minor outside the home and then bringing her inside to a room where she was repeatedly raped. The lawsuit, filed in San Diego County Superior Court, alleges the then-high school senior went in and out of consciousness but remembers moments as the men took turns assaulting her.
The other men named in the complaint are Zavier Leonard and Nowlin “Pa’a” Ewaliko. Leonard is listed on the university’s fall football roster as a redshirt freshman. Ewaliko was on the team last year as a freshman but is not on the current roster.
The Bills released a statement in which they admit to being recently made aware of the allegations against Araiza.
In a statement, the #Bills said they were “recently made aware of a civil complaint involving Matt from October 2021…”
Still unclear right now what kind of timetable “recently” entails. https://t.co/wv0HV1nB0B
— Kimberley A. Martin (@ByKimberleyA) August 25, 2022
According to Tim Graham of The Atheltic, the Bills found out about the rape allegations last month and not only decided to name Araize the starter but also cut veteran punter Matt Haack on Monday.
Source tells me the Bills were made aware of the accusations against Araiza last month. They did not know when they drafted him, but did know when they cut Matt Haack on Monday.
— Tim Graham (@ByTimGraham) August 26, 2022
As of now, Araiza is expected to play in the team’s next preseason game.
Araiza traveled with the Bills to Carolina and is expected to play tomorrow night.
— Tim Graham (@ByTimGraham) August 26, 2022
Based on this timeline, not only did they know prior to cutting Matt Haack but McDermott knew prior to going on PMT (recorded last week prior to the Denver game) and referring to Araiza as a "good kid" and a "fan favorite". https://t.co/FnOfvd0SPE
— Bills Chat Podcast (@BillsChatPod) August 26, 2022
Wait so the Bills knew about rape accusations against
one of their players….and then they cut THE OTHER GUY AT HIS POSITION ON THE ROSTER?Dear god. https://t.co/D3QTv64VKJ
— Andrew Goldstein (@AndyGold24) August 26, 2022
This is terrible, perhaps the worst move by the Bills, who have been in a very positive light as of late. The league in general needs to be better about these things. https://t.co/4Iql7wh69o
— Big Chief Smitty (@AJSmitty94) August 26, 2022
This is disgusting. The fact the Bills have known this FOR OVER A MONTH and STILL kept him makes me so disappointed to be a Bills fan
You have lots of explaining to do @BuffaloBills https://t.co/YcO8xKDhW7
— Jordan McGee (@ozmcgee44) August 26, 2022
This is stunning. This is an incredibly serious and ugly event. Unless you can prove without a doubt it is untrue an accusation of this magnitude will hang over the organization and seriously damage the brand. Can't see how he stays a Bill. https://t.co/76CwUf383a
— Tony Bogyo (@TBogyo) August 26, 2022