Bills Under Fire For Reportedly Knowing About ‘Punt God’ Matt Araiza’s Rape Allegations Before Naming Him Starter And Cutting His Backup

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.

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.

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.

As of now, Araiza is expected to play in the team’s next preseason game.

Jorge Alonso BroBible avatar
Brobible sports editor. Jorge is a Miami native and lifelong Heat fan. He has been covering the NBA, MLB and NFL professionally for almost 10 years, specializing in digital media.