Matt Araiza accused of rape, served with a lawsuit.

[Steptide]

Honestly one of the strangest "game days" I can ever remember, even if it is just ore season. McDermotts press conference after the game is gonna be interesting, and honestly, I might be looking more forward to that 

[TheBrownBear]

Based on what we've seen from the accuser's lawyer and how he initiated contact with Araiza and his lawyer, I'm almost willing to bet he came on very unprofessional when initiating discussions with the Bills as well.  If that's the case, you can see a situation where the Bills might not have taken this as seriously as they should have, viewed it as a shakedown, or whatever.  Doesn't completely absolve them from doing their due diligence (and who knows, maybe they did), but you can envision a scenario where they didn't want to engage with this Gilleon fellow and chose to conduct an investigation without any input from him.

[716er]

A punter lol 

 

next

[Solomon Grundy]

I have to say, I'm pissed that the Bills didn't thoroughly do their homework and their PI needs to be fired!!!

[DCbillsfan]

5 minutes ago, YoloinOhio said:

My read on it is that the situation is fluid and the decision was made late 

I agree Yolo.  It sounds like they're keeping him out of sight and it may be a sign of what's to come.

[just1hugheser]

6 minutes ago, RocCityRoller said:

Is Araiza eligible for the Commissioner's exemption list?

 

The alleged incident happened before he was an NFL player.

 

It seems the logical choice if applicable.

 

no he was not yet in the league when his took place.

 

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/34460423/buffalo-bills-punter-matt-araiza-two-san-diego-state-football-players-accused-gang-raping-minor-lawsuit

 

[Yobogoya!]

2 minutes ago, just1hugheser said:

Well I actually think due process is working albeit slowly, despite the outside opinions of anyone. 

 

According to the espn article I read;

 

-she reported it the day after meaning there will be a ton of physical evidence(piercings being pulled out, bleeding/trauma to repoductive system, roofies in her system, etc.). 

-Furthermore, according to this article the police told her to call him and initiate a conversation in which he admits to having sex with her and that she should be tested for STDs and when she asks more directly he changes his tone saying he doesn't remember-all according to the suit filed by her attorney per this article.(if you are a lawyer would you file a suit alleging these things without corroborating support for/by said police/medical facility she was examined by/told to make this call)

 

If this article is accurate there should be no doubt one way or the other as there should be more than ample evidence and the DA should clearly proceed with serious charges and everyone involved should be adequately punished.  I mean this for either way it goes, if she and her lawyer are lying there will be no evidence, if they are not then as I said above there is clearly an abundance of evidence.

 

I'm not linking the espn article because well you all probably already read it or frankly can find it quite quickly.

Yeah whatever Araiza did or did not do, the police have been involved investigating since the day after the incident. 
 

If there’s enough evidence he did this crime, he’ll be facing criminal charges. That’s the bottom line. 

[fridge]

8 minutes ago, Success said:

 

We have one of the best justice systems in world history.

 

 

Is this comedy?

[716er]

Just now, Solomon Grundy said:

I have to say, I'm pissed that the Bills didn't thoroughly do their homework and their PI needs to be fired!!!

More annoyed they didn’t see this coming and didn’t keep Haack. But that’s a 1 on a scale of 1 to 10.

 

we’re talking about a punter 

[just1hugheser]

Please read this before commiting one way or another:

 

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/34460423/buffalo-bills-punter-matt-araiza-two-san-diego-state-football-players-accused-gang-raping-minor-lawsui

[Bills2022]

The Pegulas have a daughter on the professional women's tennis tour. And a couple other daughters. Terry Pegula is not going to allow this guy to remain on the team.  

 

Pretty confident Pegula would get rid of him based on the statutory rape claim alone. The guy admitted to having sex with her. He can't survive that even if it was consensual. I am not sure how the guy gets around the 17yr old girl issue even if everything else is false.

Edited August 26, 2022 by Bills2022

[just1hugheser]

Just now, fridge said:

 

Is this comedy?

 

 

actually no, try asking brittany griner

[Solomon Grundy]

Just now, 716er said:

More annoyed they didn’t see this coming and didn’t keep Haack. But that’s a 1 on a scale of 1 to 10.

 

we’re talking about a punter 

And holder

[Success]

1 minute ago, fridge said:

 

Is this comedy?

 

Not at all.  Our justice system still has major flaws & biases - but it is still one of the best in the world. And it sure as HELL is better than a jury of twitter losers.

 

[just1hugheser]

1 minute ago, Yobogoya! said:

Yeah whatever Araiza did or did not do, the police have been involved investigating since the day after the incident. 
 

If there’s enough evidence he did this crime, he’ll be facing criminal charges. That’s the bottom line. 

 

Exactly, my only concern is that the Bills were made aware sometime in early June, seems like a bad move to cut Haack limiting options, though the article does say they did an invesitgation.

[BillsSbSoon]

He’s done here. Now watch the legal process play out and he’s cleared of everything and someone else picks him up in a heartbeat. I mean that’s our nature

[Beck Water]

25 minutes ago, 1ManRaid said:

 

 

I take MASSIVE ethical/moral issues with your #1.  It should not be so easy to turn someone's life upside down on a whim, just because you can afford the consequences without regard to the human life you are destroying.  Only highly paid QBs and the like deserve fundamental rights and respect now?

 

I hate to be "that B*tch", but I think you've got it mixed about fundamental rights and the behavior of employers here.

 

Please keep in mind as you read this that I have consistently in this thread promoted a viewpoint of "gather the facts before acting" "wait to gain a full picture before acting".  That said....

 

It is not a fundamental right of any person to remain employed by any specific employer.  You break a rule, or do something that causes your employer to lose confidence in you, or even causes your employer to be bathed in a negative light, they can and will hand you your walking papers.  This is because employers are all about their business success and what advances their business, no matter what stuff they put out there about "family" and "value for people" and lalala.

 

There are a lot of things that have a huge impact on a person's life.  Being in an accident that leaves them disabled.  Losing a close family member or loved one.   Dare I say, being the victim of a violent crime?

 

For an intelligent healthy young person with a college degree, losing a specific job, even if it is his "dream job", should not "destroy" his life.  He should be able to move on, find another job, build another career.  He does not have a fundamental right to be an NFL football player and collect NFL football player money.

 

Again, I say this as someone who has been consistently up thread promoting a "gather the facts" "investigate" "don't be hasty" mindset.  I frankly find it sickening to read tweets like this:

 

But, on the other hand, it's just as bad to claim a moral and ethical high ground or "fundamental human right" for someone who faces civil suit and potentially criminal charges to remain employed by a specific employer.  I would have no problem personally if the Bills were to decide to retain Araiza's services pending gathering more evidence, but I don't pretend it's some "fundamental right" of his, or that his life is ruined if he can't play in the NFL. 

 

And where is the concern for the "fundamental rights" of the alleged victim who, if the allegations prove true, had her life turned upsidedown "on a whim" ?

Edited August 26, 2022 by Beck Water

[Draconator]

Just now, Success said:

 

 And it sure as HELL is better than a jury of twitter losers.

 

But it's on the internet, so it must be true!

 

Right?

[BillsShredder83]

1 hour ago, Alphadawg7 said:

 

Exactly, why do posters always want threads closed if they dont like that thread?  Like this isn't everyones personal message board, you don't like a thread move on to one you do. 

Same people who think I shouldn't be allowed to watch shows like South Park/Chapelle set, because they're outraged about things they don't consume

[Warcodered]

2 minutes ago, Bills2022 said:

The Pegulas have a daughter on the professional women's tennis tour. And a couple other daughters. Terry Pegula is not going to allow this guy to remain on the team.  

 

Pretty confident Pegula would get rid of him based on the statutory rape claim alone. The guy admitted to having sex with her. He can't survive that even if it was consensual. I am not sure how the guy gets around the 17yr old girl issue even if everything else is false.

They've known about this for over a month and yet here he remains.

[RocCityRoller]

4 minutes ago, Solomon Grundy said:

I have to say, I'm pissed that the Bills didn't thoroughly do their homework and their PI needs to be fired!!!

 

This is true

[Yobogoya!]

Just now, just1hugheser said:

 

Exactly, my only concern is that the Bills were made aware sometime in early June, seems like a bad move to cut Haack limiting options, though the article does say they did an invesitgation.

thats why I think there’s more to this story we haven’t heard. McD called him a good kid just this past week, I can’t imagine he’d say that if he thought the guy gang raped someone but who knows who had what information and when throughout this thing. We’ll see I guess. 

[fridge]

Just now, Success said:

 

Not at all.  Our justice system still has major flaws & biases - but it is still one of the best in the world. And it sure as HELL is better than a jury of twitter losers.

 

 

Why would you even compare our justice system to Twitter? Bizarre.

 

Yes, it's obviously flawed. Your blanket statement was worth pointing out because there are a multitude of mainstream examples for why having faith in the justice system is not a good excuse for inaction.

 

 

[BillsFanSD]

Just now, Beck Water said:

 

I hate to be "that B*tch", but I think you've got it mixed about fundamental rights and the behavior of employers here.

 

Please keep in mind as you read this that I have consistently in this thread promoted a viewpoint of "gather the facts before acting" "wait to gain a full picture before acting"

 

It is not a fundamental right of any person to remain employed by any specific employer.  You break a rule, or do something that causes your employer to lose confidence in you, or even causes your employer to be bathed in a negative light, they can and will hand you your walking papers.  This is because employers are all about their business success and what advances their business, no matter what stuff they put out there about "family" and "value for people" and lalala.

 

There are a lot of things that have a huge impact on a person's life.  Being in an accident that leaves them disabled.  Losing a close family member or loved one. 

 

For an intelligent healthy young person with a college degree, losing a specific job, even if it is his "dream job", should not "destroy" his life.  He should be able to move on, find another job, build another career.  He does not have a fundamental right to be an NFL football player and collect NFL football player money.

 

Again, I say this as someone who has been consistently up thread promoting a "gather the facts" "investigate" "don't be hasty" mindset.  I frankly find it sickening to read tweets like this:

 

But, on the other hand, it's just as bad to claim a moral and ethical high ground or "fundamental human right" for someone who faces civil suit and potentially criminal charges to remain employed by a specific employer.  I would have no problem personally if the Bills were to decide to retain Araiza's services pending gathering more evidence, but I don't pretend it's some "fundamental right" of his, or that his life is ruined if he can't play in the NFL. 

 

And where is the concern for the "fundamental rights" of the alleged victim who, if the allegations prove true, had her life turned upsidedown "on a whim" ?

Nobody is saying that Matt Araiza has a constitutional right to punt for the Buffalo Bills.

 

We're saying that it would be stupid, short-sighted, and contrary to the team's best interests to make any decision, one way or the other, without at least a little more information that what has been made publicly available.  There is no harm whatsoever in waiting a few days.  

[fridge]

Just now, BillsFanSD said:

Nobody is saying that Matt Araiza has a constitutional right to punt for the Buffalo Bills.

 

We're saying that it would be stupid, short-sighted, and contrary to the team's best interests to make any decision, one way or the other, without at least a little more information that what has been made publicly available.  There is no harm whatsoever in waiting a few days.  

 

Genuine question -- what do you envision changing over the next "few days"?

[gobills404]

1 hour ago, BullBuchanan said:

Why is it unprofessional to interact with porn stars online?

Nothing if you do it privately. Doing it on a public account you use to represent yourself and your work is another thing.

[Beck Water]

Just now, BillsFanSD said:

Nobody is saying that Matt Araiza has a constitutional right to punt for the Buffalo Bills.

 

Funny, that seems very close to what the poster to whom I was responding was saying:

"I take MASSIVE ethical/moral issues with your #1.  It should not be so easy to turn someone's life upside down on a whim, just because you can afford the consequences without regard to the human life you are destroying.  Only highly paid QBs and the like deserve fundamental rights and respect now?"

 

Now mind you, the Constitution wasn't mentioned, but moral and ethical issues, respect, and "fundamental rights" were - which kinda seem bigger then just our constitutution.

 

Quote

We're saying that it would be stupid, short-sighted, and contrary to the team's best interests to make any decision, one way or the other, without at least a little more information that what has been made publicly available.  There is no harm whatsoever in waiting a few days. 

 

And I have no problem with that viewpoint, in fact, I support it. 

 

My point is, if the Buffalo Bills decide that it IS in the team's best interest to make an immediate decision and there IS harm in waiting, they are not violating Araiza's "fundamental rights" or any moral or ethical issue, because he has no fundamental, moral, or ethical right to employment by a specific employer.

[Bills2022]

7 minutes ago, just1hugheser said:

Please read this before commiting one way or another:

 

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/34460423/buffalo-bills-punter-matt-araiza-two-san-diego-state-football-players-accused-gang-raping-minor-lawsui

 

He admitted to having sex with her. She was 17. That is all the Bills need to know. Cut him.  He may not have raped her, she may be a crazy person, but this is not the Duke lacrosse team situation.

 

Hopefully it all works out for him. If it does Cleveland will find a spot for him. 

[Andy1]

Are the police still investigating? What is taking so long? This is not a complicated case. Either charge him or not. I don’t blame the girls family for being frustrated with lack of action. 

[BullBuchanan]

3 minutes ago, gobills404 said:

Nothing if you do it privately. Doing it on a public account you use to represent yourself and your work is another thing.

Why?

[BillsFanSD]

8 minutes ago, fridge said:

 

Genuine question -- what do you envision changing over the next "few days"?

Well, for one, we can hear the accounts of other people who were at the party.

 

Again, this isn't just speculation, like "Well, I don't know, maybe another accuser or a mystery witness will come forward."  We know with 100% certainty that there were other people there, some of whom were friends with the plaintiff.  I would like to hear from them before making any decisions.

 

I think we've reached the point where I should note that I can tell you exactly what would convince me that Araiza should be released: corroborating testimony from one or more witnesses*.  What could happen that would convince you that Araiza should stay, and why are you so eager to make a snap decision now instead of waiting to see if that comes to pass?

 

* There's other stuff too of course, like a rape kit that shows GHB in Jane Doe's system and credible evidence that Araiza served her.  But I have no idea if police have that information and I wouldn't expect it to be publicly released just to make life easy on the Bills.  Probably the Bills already know what the witness testimony is going to be, though, which is why I'm focusing on that.

Edited August 26, 2022 by BillsFanSD

[BuffaloRebound]

If these are all lies, Araiza needs to publicly come out and explain what did or didn’t happen like immediately.  Gang rape and minor and NFL player.  The story is taking on a life if it’s own.  He needs to defend himself in media immediately.  

[Orlando Tim]

Just now, fridge said:

 

Genuine question -- what do you envision changing over the next "few days"?

I am hoping that some evidence is presented that backs up the accusation, if it is true. I don't believe the SDPD just sat on the case due to the fact that he was a football player but whatever investigation has been done I would like to see the evidence. I highly doubt he sees any criminal liability, but if he is guilty I hope he does not play for us, and if he is innocent I hope this dies quickly. I don't know what evidence the police can share with the public because it is a very serious accusation.

[Jauronimo]

1 minute ago, BullBuchanan said:

Why?

Some people might think its a sign of questionable professional judgement to mix your work with your porn interests as evidenced by all the people suggesting that mixing work with porn shows questionable professionalism and judgement.  

[JD333]

 

[Beck Water]

12 minutes ago, Bills2022 said:

The Pegulas have a daughter on the professional women's tennis tour. And a couple other daughters. Terry Pegula is not going to allow this guy to remain on the team.  

 

Pretty confident Pegula would get rid of him based on the statutory rape claim alone. The guy admitted to having sex with her. He can't survive that even if it was consensual. I am not sure how the guy gets around the 17yr old girl issue even if everything else is false.

 

Because in the same state where 18 (and not 17 or 16) is the age of consent, "mistake of age" is apparently considered to be a reasonable defense.

 

If there are other people at the party who are willing to testify that they heard her say she was 18, or attending college, it would be "up to" the prosecutor to prove Araiza should have reasonably known that was false.

[Andy1]

Ariza on NBC news now…. Ugh

[Bills2022]

6 minutes ago, Andy1 said:

Are the police still investigating? What is taking so long? This is not a complicated case. Either charge him or not. I don’t blame the girls family for being frustrated with lack of action. 

 

The police handed it over to the District Attorney. They now have to decide what charges to bring. It gets tricky with underage girls. Especially if they lied and said they were  in college when they were only 17 and in high school.

Edited August 26, 2022 by Bills2022

[pigpen65]

Benching him was the absolute bare minimum. It should have been announced last night that he would be benched. The Pegulas, Beane, and McD all have a lot of questions that need answered about why it's gotten to the point it hadls when they've known about this for weeks

Edited August 26, 2022 by pigpen65

[UKBillFan]

Just in terms of the Bills options away from cutting him and including him on the roster, could we include him on the practice squad and leave him there until this is sorted?