Matt Araiza accused of rape, served with a lawsuit.

[Warcodered]

2 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

Given all the attention around Araiza's spot on the roster I think it is only fair that the Bills make an exception to this rule. The fans deserve to know what's going on.

What does us knowing an hour or two sooner change?

[Rc2catch]

Just now, Believer said:

Agree… But as owner, he should be visible, and like McD, express empathy for all involved… and his confidence in the ongoing internal investigation and upcoming decision process… Doubt Jerry Jones would be hiding… Unimpressed…

Some well written press release or statement isn’t changing anything. It’s not like he’d take questions or give any info. 

[Captain Caveman]

2 minutes ago, mannc said:

That’s pretty vague.  It shows that the Bills did in fact speak to her lawyer.  It’s safe to say her lawyer told them plenty about the allegations…he doesn’t say that he made his client available to them and he doesn’t say what he would have told the team if they called back that he didn’t tell them initially. I think you’re putting too much faith in the word of the esteemed Mr Gilleon.

 

I think that her attorney had every reason to share the details they had early on to press for a more favorable result.  I think either the Bills didn't ask the right questions, or they sat on information that later on proved to be too toxic to live with.

[Motorin']

22 minutes ago, BillsFanSD said:

"This is slighly skeevy" is not a reason to release a player.

 

When people focus on this particular aspect of the story, it tells me that they made up their mind 48 hours ago and are now just looking for reasons to support the conclusion that they lept to.  If this entire story was just "Matt Araiza hooked up with a 17 year old when he was in college," it would not be a story.

 

You're right, the whole story isn't Matt Araiza hooked up with a 17 year old when he was in college. 

 

It's, Matt Araiza hooked up with a 17 year old girl he just met in the bushes outside of a house where she would later possibly be forcibly raped by several of his teammates, and he is the one being accused of bringing her into the room where it happened. 

 

But that's not why this thread is nearing 300 pages. These allegations were made public as early as December 2021 and the Bills don't seem to have known anything about it when they drafted him.

 

And after learning of the allegations, the Bills chose to name him the starter apparently hoping the whole thing would stay buried. 

 

Whether Matt Araiza is guilty or even charged is up to the DA and judge/ jury to decide. 

 

As Bills fans, we have every right to know why due diligence wasn't done. Or if it was, and someone decided to take a gamble that it would never see the light of day. 

Edited August 27, 2022 by Motorin'

[Cheektowaga Chad]

6 minutes ago, Mattymafia said:

Can we hit 300 pages by end of weekend?

Whats the total this thread gets by say Monday before week 1?

 

500? 1k? 

[HappyDays]

1 minute ago, Rc2catch said:

If he is practicing, or not, just opens things up to even more rumors and questions before mcd speaks 

 

If he's practicing that means he's on the team and they're standing by him. If he isn't he's either off the team or they're taking him away while they collect more info. Either way we have a right to know as fans of the team. 

[Captain Caveman]

4 minutes ago, Warcodered said:

So they were informed of the situation from her lawyer but don't have her perspective on the situation, so is he terrible at his job or something?

 

I agree it might be uncommon for a team to interview the victim in this type of situation, but I do think it speaks to the depth of their investigation (which is to say, pretty shallow) that they met once for a few hours, and never asked a single follow up question after that day.

[julian]

7 minutes ago, BullBuchanan said:

I'm not trolling, but don't recontextualize my statement. There's no need for less accurate descriptions.

I apologize for misinterpreting the your statement, I thought I read it as you saying rape is worse than murder and it was a hill you would die on.

 

 Sometimes my comprehension isn’t where I’d like it to be.

[Rc2catch]

Just now, HappyDays said:

 

If he's practicing that means he's on the team and they're standing by him. If he isn't he's either off the team or they're taking him away while they collect more info. Either way we have a right to know as fans of the team. 

If he practices today but gets cut at final cut downs? 

[aristocrat]

13 minutes ago, Captain Caveman said:

 

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/27/bills-investigation-of-matt-araiza-didnt-include-information-from-alleged-victims-perspective/

 

 

did he leave out information? New info? Not sure what else they needed to talk about if he gave them the info on what happened

[TC in St. Louis]

I don't believe anybody right now.  Least of all the alleged victim.  I just read something in her "journal" where she says that, after several people took turns having sex with her, she was flipped over and someone performed oral sex on her.  

 

First of all, I don't know any people who would take turns having sex with anybody.  But I don't know that there is a person on the planet who would have oral sex with a woman who has been having sex with several men.  That particular embellishment, in my opinion, is nonsense. 

 

Her lawyer strikes me as a scumbag.  He's blaming everybody.  Is it possible that his client is lying?  

 

This whole thing is funky.

[HappyDays]

2 minutes ago, Rc2catch said:

If he practices today but gets cut at final cut downs? 

 

That would be incredibly weird and I doubt McDermott would allow this to happen. They're either standing by him or they're not. If he's practicing today that tells us their decision.

[RunTheBall]

It’s a big if, but if after the facts are known Araiza’s only involvement is consensual sex with a 17 yo who misrepresented her age, he’s not getting charged with a thing and not getting cut

[SCBills]

7 minutes ago, Motorin' said:

 

You're right, the whole story isn't Matt Araiza hooked up with a 17 year old when he was in college. 

 

It's, Matt Araiza hooked up with a 17 year old girl he just met in the bushes outside of a house where she would possibly be forcibly raped by several of his teammates, and he is the one being accused of brining her into the room where it happened. 

 

But that's not why this thread is nearing 300 pages. These allegations were made public as early as December 2021 and the Bills don't seem to have known anything about it when they drafted him.

 

And after learning of the allegations, the Bills chose to name him the starter apparently hoping the whole thing would stay buried. 

 

Whether Matt Araiza is guilty or even charged is up to the DA and judge/ jury to decide. 

 

As Bills fans, we have every right to know why due diligence wasn't done. Or if it was, and someone decided to take a gamble that it would never see the light of day. 

Maybe they truly believe he’s innocent of the main accusation but did not fully understand the ancillary details involved.  
 

Details on their own, likely wouldn’t get a guy cut for misconduct. 

 

Now they’re in a tough spot because people can jump on the 17 angle or STD angle without context, as they are amplified in conjunction with the main allegation.  Also now their trust is eroded in him independent of the main accusation.  
 

Im going to go ahead and assume that quite a few players in the league have things that teams hoped stayed buried.. and stayed buried.  
 

 

Edited August 27, 2022 by SCBills

[BullBuchanan]

2 minutes ago, julian said:

I apologize for misinterpreting the your statement, I thought I read it as you saying rape is worse than murder and it was a hill you would die on.

 

 Sometimes my comprehension isn’t where I’d like it to be.

I actually said that gang rape is worse than murder. I didn't say anything about sexual assault.

[HappyDays]

There you go. He's probably going to be cut soon. That or they'll announce that they're collecting more info and keeping him away from the team in the meantime.

[Rc2catch]

Just now, HappyDays said:

 

That would be incredibly weird and I doubt McDermott would allow this to happen. They're either standing by him or they're not. If he's practicing today that tells us their decision.

I can see that side of it. But I can also see them being business as usual and releasing him at final cuts as well. It’s 100% possible Mcdermott doesn’t really talk again today. At least not about that. 

[NoSaint]

18 minutes ago, Believer said:

Come on, Pegula… Step up… Your franchise is in crisis… and your Pegula Sports crisis management team is abysmal… You need to assure the team, the community, and your fellow owners you have some plan… So far, you are failing the test of leadership…

In our age of instant gratification it’s not always popular, but sometimes you have to let the story come to you. before saying things on the record.

 

im guessing bills investigators and strategists are having many meetings today to either review new content or reconfirm old beliefs they had 

[HappyDays]

An obvious move from the Bills but still good to see.

[mannc]

2 minutes ago, Captain Caveman said:

 

I agree it might be uncommon for a team to interview the victim in this type of situation, but I do think it speaks to the depth of their investigation (which is to say, pretty shallow) that they met once for a few hours, and never asked a single follow up question after that day.

There is nowhere near enough information to conclude anything about the thoroughness of the Bills’ investigation.  The only thing we know is that after communicating with the plaintiff’s lawyer, and having an opportunity to investigate further, they went ahead and cut Matt Haack.  As some have pointed out, that might not mean much because talent like Haack’s isn’t exactly rare anyway…

[NoSaint]

1 minute ago, HappyDays said:

There you go. He's probably going to be cut soon. That or they'll announce that they're collecting more info and keeping him away from the team in the meantime.

those would be the two options if he’s not at practice 

[BIGFOOTspaceman]

4 minutes ago, Motorin' said:

 

You're right, the whole story isn't Matt Araiza hooked up with a 17 year old when he was in college. 

 

It's, Matt Araiza hooked up with a 17 year old girl he just met in the bushes outside of a house where she would possibly be forcibly raped by several of his teammates, and he is the one being accused of brining her into the room where it happened. 

 

But that's not why this thread is nearing 300 pages. These allegations were made public as early as December 2021 and the Bills don't seem to have known anything about it when they drafted him.

 

And after learning of the allegations, the Bills chose to name him the starter apparently hoping the whole thing would stay buried. 

 

Whether Matt Araiza is guilty or even charged is up to the DA and judge/ jury to decide. 

 

As Bills fans, we have every right to know why due diligence wasn't done. Or if it was, and someone decided to take a gamble that it would never see the light of day. 

I don't buy the fact that other teams knew.  I mean, Josh Allen's tweet was all over ESPN and NFL Network right before the draft and that was just a tweet.

 

This guy potentially gang raped a girl, it was supposedly known and not a peep? That's weird. Matt Araiza, though a punter and 6th round pick did have a buzz around him.  And nothing?  Like I said, seems weird. 

[LabattBlue]

3 minutes ago, TC in St. Louis said:

I don't believe anybody right now.  Least of all the alleged victim.  I just read something in her "journal" where she says that, after several people took turns having sex with her, she was flipped over and someone performed oral sex on her.  

 

First of all, I don't know any people who would take turns having sex with anybody.  But I don't know that there is a person on the planet who would have oral sex with a woman who has been having sex with several men.  That particular embellishment, in my opinion, is nonsense. 

 

Her lawyer strikes me as a scumbag.  He's blaming everybody.  Is it possible that his client is lying?  

 

This whole thing is funky.

This is a football board.  No need for your thoughts in graphic detail.  

[Warcodered]

Just now, BIGFOOTspaceman said:

I don't buy the fact that other teams knew.  I mean, Josh Allen's tweet was all over ESPN and NFL Network right before the draft and that was just a tweet.

 

This guy potentially gang raped a girl, it was supposedly known and not a peep? That's weird. Matt Araiza, though a punter and 6th round pick did have a buzz around him.  And nothing?  Like I said, seems weird. 

There was an article apparently a month ago it just for whatever reason didn't click into the collective consciousness.

[aristocrat]

5 minutes ago, TC in St. Louis said:

I don't believe anybody right now.  Least of all the alleged victim.  I just read something in her "journal" where she says that, after several people took turns having sex with her, she was flipped over and someone performed oral sex on her.  

 

First of all, I don't know any people who would take turns having sex with anybody.  But I don't know that there is a person on the planet who would have oral sex with a woman who has been having sex with several men.  That particular embellishment, in my opinion, is nonsense. 

 

Her lawyer strikes me as a scumbag.  He's blaming everybody.  Is it possible that his client is lying?  

 

This whole thing is funky.

This is hilarious. Google some things but maybe you shouldn’t cause you’ll go down a rabbit hole you’ll never recover from. 

[SCBills]

1 minute ago, BIGFOOTspaceman said:

I don't buy the fact that other teams knew.  I mean, Josh Allen's tweet was all over ESPN and NFL Network right before the draft and that was just a tweet.

 

This guy potentially gang raped a girl, it was supposedly known and not a peep? That's weird. Matt Araiza, though a punter and 6th round pick did have a buzz around him.  And nothing?  Like I said, seems weird. 

Gotta agree here.  
 

He’s not just a punter.  He’s the most hyped punter in recent memory. 
 

This story was allegedly floating around in certain circles.  
 

This accusation is everything the media jumps all over.  
 

And… radio silence?  Through the entire draft process?  
 

Bizarre.  

[NoSaint]

2 minutes ago, BIGFOOTspaceman said:

I don't buy the fact that other teams knew.  I mean, Josh Allen's tweet was all over ESPN and NFL Network right before the draft and that was just a tweet.

 

This guy potentially gang raped a girl, it was supposedly known and not a peep? That's weird. Matt Araiza, though a punter and 6th round pick did have a buzz around him.  And nothing?  Like I said, seems weird. 

I think you’d be shocked what teams know and we don’t on some of these guys. 

[Believer]

1 minute ago, NoSaint said:

In our age of instant gratification it’s not always popular, but sometimes you have to let the story come to you. before saying things on the record.

 

im guessing bills investigators and strategists are having many meetings today to either review new content or reconfirm old beliefs they had 

Yes, no doubt… And Pegula should say so… He owns the franchise, for Chris sakes… Leadership starts with showing up… Last word from me on his silence… 

[Motorin']

Just now, BIGFOOTspaceman said:

I don't buy the fact that other teams knew.  I mean, Josh Allen's tweet was all over ESPN and NFL Network right before the draft and that was just a tweet.

 

This guy potentially gang raped a girl, it was supposedly known and not a peep? That's weird. Matt Araiza, though a punter and 6th round pick did have a buzz around him.  And nothing?  Like I said, seems weird. 

 

I'd really like to track down the supposed Twitter account that was created in December 2021 that was used launch these accusations against Araiza and other members of his team. 

 

There were also CBS reports about the SDS football teams involvement in a rape much early than when the Bills found out. 

 

 

[PromoTheRobot]

 

 

 

[GoBills808]

1 minute ago, NoSaint said:

I think you’d be shocked what teams know and we don’t on some of these guys. 

The other side of that coin would be how shocking it would be for an organization to miss, for whatever reason, something so potentially damaging imo.

[PromoTheRobot]

1 minute ago, Believer said:

Yes, no doubt… And Pegula should say so… He owns the franchise, for Chris sakes… Leadership starts with showing up… Last word from me on his silence… 

 

Why do people want the owner to chime in?

[finn]

5 minutes ago, mannc said:

There is nowhere near enough information to conclude anything about the thoroughness of the Bills’ investigation.  The only thing we know is that after communicating with the plaintiff’s lawyer, and having an opportunity to investigate further, they went ahead and cut Matt Haack.  As some have pointed out, that might not mean much because talent like Haack’s isn’t exactly rare anyway…

Actually, that's a good point. I could think of no reason why the Bills, who say they value character, would cut Haack and keep Araiza before doing (true) due diligence on this matter. This at least is one plausible explanation. They might not have wanted to keep Haack under any circumstances. 

[BIGFOOTspaceman]

6 minutes ago, BTB said:

This is a football board.  No need for your thoughts in graphic detail.  

That was just gross to read, didn't need the mental picture. 

[Warcodered]

9 minutes ago, TC in St. Louis said:

I don't believe anybody right now.  Least of all the alleged victim.  I just read something in her "journal" where she says that, after several people took turns having sex with her, she was flipped over and someone performed oral sex on her.  

 

First of all, I don't know any people who would take turns having sex with anybody.  But I don't know that there is a person on the planet who would have oral sex with a woman who has been having sex with several men.  That particular embellishment, in my opinion, is nonsense. 

 

Her lawyer strikes me as a scumbag.  He's blaming everybody.  Is it possible that his client is lying?  

 

This whole thing is funky.

Just to give a quick summation as to how gross this is, the premise of this statement comes off as us apparently needing to defer to you as to proper gangbang/rape etiquette? and for that reason why the victim's account isn't believable?

[GoBills808]

1 minute ago, Warcodered said:

Just to give a quick summation as to how gross this is, the premise of this statement comes off as us apparently needing to defer to you as to proper gangbang/rape etiquette? and for that reason why the victim's account isn't believable?

Ffs don't quote that

[nedboy7]

13 minutes ago, TC in St. Louis said:

I don't believe anybody right now.  Least of all the alleged victim.  I just read something in her "journal" where she says that, after several people took turns having sex with her, she was flipped over and someone performed oral sex on her.  

 

First of all, I don't know any people who would take turns having sex with anybody.  But I don't know that there is a person on the planet who would have oral sex with a woman who has been having sex with several men.  That particular embellishment, in my opinion, is nonsense. 

 

Her lawyer strikes me as a scumbag.  He's blaming everybody.  Is it possible that his client is lying?  

 

This whole thing is funky.

 

Gang rape is usually funky.  I suggest not posting. 

[Beck Water]

9 minutes ago, Captain Caveman said:

I agree it might be uncommon for a team to interview the victim in this type of situation, but I do think it speaks to the depth of their investigation (which is to say, pretty shallow) that they met once for a few hours, and never asked a single follow up question after that day.

 

For what it's worth, one of our resident attorneys pointed out that the whole "Bills didn't talk to the victim as part of their investigation" may in large part be more lawyer grandstanding and trying to (successfully) put pressure on the Bills by "trying the case in the court of public opinion" by making it look as though the Bills can't have done a thorough investigation - a viewpoint reinforced by the headline of @john wawrow's otherwise well done AP article.

 

His point was that the lawyer is actually highly unlikely to make his client available to the Bills either for a sworn deposition, or a recorded interview with the Bills reps able to ask her questions freely.  Either would be discoverable to the civil case, and could result in contradictions or inconsistencies that could cast doubt on her as a witness in her civil case.

 

In fact, the lawyer mentions specifically "contact my client for her statement".  A pre-written, vetted statement from the alleged victim may not add too much to the investigation over the initial conversation and the emailed information he provided to the Bills.

[PromoTheRobot]

4 minutes ago, SCBills said:

Gotta agree here.  
 

He’s not just a punter.  He’s the most hyped punter in recent memory. 
 

This story was allegedly floating around in certain circles.  
 

This accusation is everything the media jumps all over.  
 

And… radio silence?  Through the entire draft process?  
 

Bizarre.  

 

Let's play a little game here. You say the story was out there. Yet we all only just found out about this Friday. How "out there" could it had been?

 

[mannc]

2 minutes ago, finn said:

Actually, that's a good point. I could think of no reason why the Bills, who say they value character, would cut Haack and keep Araiza before doing (true) due diligence on this matter. This at least is one plausible explanation. They might not have wanted to keep Haack under any circumstances. 

I'm coming around to that point of view...but on the other hand, they cut Haack well before they had to pick a punter...they could have kept both he and Araiza on the roster for another couple weeks as they sorted things out.  Really tough to figure...