Bills Punter Matt Araiza Cut By Team Amid Rape Allegations

Buffalo Bills Punter Matt Araiza — accused of gang-raping a 17-year-old lady whereas in school — has been launched by the workforce, the group introduced Saturday.

As TMZ Sports beforehand reported, 22-year-old Araiza was sued in San Diego County Superior Court earlier this week.

Araiza, nicknamed the “Punt God,” is accused of gang-raping a 17-year-old lady, solely recognized as “Jane Doe” within the swimsuit, at a Halloween get together at his home on October 17, 2021.

The lady, who says she was inebriated upon arriving on the get together, says Araiza gave her a drink that she later believed contained “other intoxicating substances.”

Doe claims the 2 engaged in sexual acts outdoors of the punter’s residence. She says Araiza then led her inside, and threw her onto a mattress. She claims he gang raped her with two of his Aztecs teammates — Nowlin “Pa’a” Ewaliko and Zavier Leonard — who’re additionally named as defendants within the lawsuit.

The lady claims the sexual abuse went on for about an hour and a half, earlier than the get together was ultimately shut down. In the swimsuit she says she “stumbled out of the room bloody and crying.”

Doe is suing Araiza, Ewaliko and Leonard for unspecified damages.

Araiza, shortly after the allegations got here to gentle, adamantly denied the claims, saying … “The facts of the incident are not what they are portrayed in the lawsuit or in the press. I look forward to quickly setting the record straight.”

The Bills initially issued an announcement saying they have been conscious of the allegations, saying they “conducted a thorough examination,” however could not remark additional as a result of lively swimsuit.

However, after sitting Araiza (the workforce’s beginning P) throughout Friday evening’s preseason sport, the Bills, a Super Bowl favourite, introduced Saturday afternoon they have been parting methods with the league’s most talked about punter.

Buffalo GM Brandon Beane and head coach Sean McDermott briefly met with the media, telling reporters the scenario was greater than soccer, including Matt should cope with the intense subject.

As for particularly when the group discovered or the extremely troubling allegations, Beane stated the next.

“I know it’s a question of when did we hear this or what was the timeline — late July from her representative spoke to [Bills attorney Kathryn D’Angelo] and laid out some of the things that they were accusing Matt and others of. At that time, our process, we tried to be thorough and thoughtful. Not rush to judgment, and I would say it’s not easy. You’re trying to put facts around a legal situation, sometimes with limited information. So, ultimately that’s where we’re at today with the decision.”

Araiza was chosen within the sixth spherical of the 2022 NFL Draft … and not too long ago went viral after he boomed an 82-yard punt throughout his first sport.

Araiza has not been arrested or charged with a criminal offense.