Matt Araiza accused of rape, served with a lawsuit.

[NoSaint]

7 minutes ago, Giuseppe Tognarelli said:

But why? Do teams have to have reasons to cut players? You don't see the NFLPA complaining about other cuts. Are performance-based cuts flagged a certain way or something?

Nope. 

the only differentiator would be if they later want to go after his inconsequential signing bonus. 

[PromoTheRobot]

1 hour ago, HappyDays said:

 

Yeah every Bills reporter on Twitter is making it a point to mention that he's still on the team. That means something. 

 

It means nothing has happened yet.

[Bermuda Triangle]

 

[Matt_In_NH]

32 minutes ago, NoSaint said:

would be reckless not to have a plan b in place even if they currently believe the guy

My opinion.  There is no plan B.  There is going to be a new punter and it’s just a matter of time/process for that to happen. 

[PromoTheRobot]

Just now, NoSaint said:

Nope. 

the only differentiator would be if they later want to go after his inconsequential signing bonus. 

 

Because this a) does not involve the NFL and b) is a civil suit and not a criminal case, the Bills have to dot their i's and cross their t's with Araiza. Making sure everything they do is air tight.

[UKBillFan]

26 minutes ago, DRsGhost said:

 

Why didn't you tell us then?

 

Missed it - as did most people!

 

But the Bills front office WERE informed then.

[PromoTheRobot]

2 minutes ago, Bermuda Triangle said:

 

 

So if you bought one, it's a collector's item now.

[Beck Water]

2 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

I would lose complete faith In everything if our judicial system was covering up the gang rape of a woman

Like just turned a blind eye despite overwhelming evidence

 

I think the young woman's journal, which her lawyer made public, tells the story of this case.  She was very intoxicated.  She has only a hazy memory of the events and can't clearly identify who was involved or who did what when.  She can't even testify as to whether the marks on her neck are hickeys or strangulation marks, she doesn't recall.  And now that her journal has been made public and presented by her attorney as something she wrote at the time, any defense attorney can subpoena it and enter it as evidence of that.

 

I'd be pretty surprised if the detectives and DA didn't believe that something seriously bad, a gang rape, happened to this woman. 

 

But cases like this are notoriously difficult to prosecute. 

 

The only way the Vanderbilt rape case succeeded is because the fools involved took pictures and videos, which the police recovered.

[NoSaint]

Just now, PromoTheRobot said:

 

Because this a) does not involve the NFL and b) is a civil suit and not a criminal case, the Bills have to dot their i's and cross their t's with Araiza. Making sure everything they do is air tight.

they do not. Because there is zero consequence for doing whatever they want and cutting him today. Beane could get drunk and cut 4 guys for looking at him funny at practice today. 

[PromoTheRobot]

14 minutes ago, Giuseppe Tognarelli said:

But why? Do teams have to have reasons to cut players? You don't see the NFLPA complaining about other cuts. Are performance-based cuts flagged a certain way or something?

 

Because Araiza hasn't violated any NFL behavior rules or been charged in a crime. He's sued in a civil case.

[Matt_In_NH]

People upset the bills have not just cut him immediately need to take a deep breath.   That may be their initial reaction but they need to be sure they have all the information,both for and against The punter.  review it and make a collective decision for the team.  

[Breakout Squad]

So he’s no longer practicing and his jersey isn’t available on the Bills store. Press conference has to address his release or placement on some sort of exemption list. Bills are being very coy during all this. 

[Bermuda Triangle]

2 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

 

So if you bought one, it's a collector's item now.

BRB, loading up on Daniel Joseph jerseys 

[NoSaint]

Just now, PromoTheRobot said:

 

Because Araiza hasn't violated any NFL behavior rules or been charged in a crime. He's sued in a civil case.

they can cut him cause they feel like it. 
 

 

[Breakout Squad]

Just now, Bermuda Triangle said:

BRB, loading up on Daniel Joseph jerseys 

I feel for the rubes that bought Peterman jerseys.

[Rc2catch]

4 minutes ago, NoSaint said:

they can cut him cause they feel like it. 
 

 

Isn’t that exactly what cuts are? The coaches make gut feeling calls on who earned a spot etc etc 

 

EDIT, my bad I thought it said they CANT cut him cause they feel like it. 
apologies 

Edited August 27, 2022 by Rc2catch

[Beck Water]

18 minutes ago, YoloinOhio said:

Not yet

 

 

Has Vorse, or can anyone else, commented on the "speed forced on them by the NFLPA" aspect?

 

What aspects of the NFLPA/CBA prevent the Bills from just saying "See Ya!" and cutting Araiza?

 

I don't disagree but I'd love to hear someone who knows something spell it out. 

[loveorhatembillsfan4life]

1 minute ago, Breakout Squad said:

So he’s no longer practicing and his jersey isn’t available on the Bills store. Press conference has to address his release or placement on some sort of exemption list. Bills are being very coy during all this. 

Yep it’s seems like after “more work done”  they are effectively ready to make this disappear. 

[Buffalo716]

6 minutes ago, Beck Water said:

 

I think the young woman's journal, which her lawyer made public, tells the story of this case.  She was very intoxicated.  She has only a hazy memory of the events and can't clearly identify who was involved or who did what when.  She can't even testify as to whether the marks on her neck are hickeys or strangulation marks, she doesn't recall.  And now that her journal has been made public and presented by her attorney as something she wrote at the time, any defense attorney can subpoena it and enter it as evidence of that.

 

I'd be pretty surprised if the detectives and DA didn't believe that something seriously bad, a gang rape, happened to this woman. 

 

But cases like this are notoriously difficult to prosecute. 

 

The only way the Vanderbilt rape case succeeded is because the fools involved took pictures and videos, which the police recovered.

I don’t doubt that something happened

 

But a rape kit should be able to get DNA and everything… Especially if she went to the cops right after

 

There should be a Lot of  evidence

Edited August 27, 2022 by Buffalo716

[fergie's ire]

1 minute ago, NoSaint said:

they can cut him cause they feel like it. 
 

 

They can.  However, they can't, for example, cut him because he's unvaccinated.  McDermott got in trouble for suggesting that he might do that last year.  You can cut someone for no reason.  You can't, however, cut them for any reason.  Some reasons will get you in trouble with the union...and this might be one of those.

[UKBillFan]

It's approaching half six EST time now? And the press conference was supposed to be before practice, then 4pm yet still hasn't been held?

 

Feels like they're sorting something out.

[NoSaint]

Just now, Buffalo716 said:

I don’t doubt that something happened

 

But a rape kit should be able to get DNA and everything… Especially if she went to the cops right after

agreed. 
 

araiza gets dicey if he previously engaged in intercourse with her though. 
 

the other guys may be much less able to defend themselves 

[Bubba Gump]

14 minutes ago, SCBills said:

This dude, along with his groupies on Twitter, are annoying. 

I've never heard of him until about 20 mins ago, lol.

[Beck Water]

8 minutes ago, NoSaint said:

they do not. Because there is zero consequence for doing whatever they want and cutting him today. Beane could get drunk and cut 4 guys for looking at him funny at practice today. 

 

The only thing I can think of is, per the CBA it's not allowed for the NFL or a team to discipline or cut a player for actions that took place before he got drafted.

 

So the Bills may have to put together a slow case that Araiza concealed information he was contractually bound to provide, gave them misleading information, or lied, during the draft process or afterwards.

 

They can cut him for skill, but that's a hard argument to make when they cut Haack and there isn't another punter on the roster.

Once they try out a bunch of other punters, I guess they can say "we're going in a different direction for *reasons*, Matt - See ya!

 

 

Edited August 27, 2022 by Beck Water

[Bermuda Triangle]

4 minutes ago, Beck Water said:

 

Has Vorse, or can anyone else, commented on the "speed forced on them by the NFLPA" aspect?

 

What aspects of the NFLPA/CBA prevent the Bills from just saying "See Ya!" and cutting Araiza?

 

I don't disagree but I'd love to hear someone who knows something spell it out. 

I think that the claim would be that Araiza being cut wasn't based on performance. 

 

EDIT: what Beck Water just said right above me.

Edited August 27, 2022 by Bermuda Triangle

[UKBillFan]

Just now, fergie's ire said:

They can.  However, they can't, for example, cut him because he's unvaccinated.  McDermott got in trouble for suggesting that he might do that last year.  You can cut someone for no reason.  You can't, however, cut them for any reason.  Some reasons will get you in trouble with the union...and this might be one of those.

 

Which goes back to Tuesday again. Had we cut him over Haack because of concerns over experience (for example), the NFL PA wouldn't have been able to do a thing.

[PromoTheRobot]

1 minute ago, fergie's ire said:

They can.  However, they can't, for example, cut him because he's unvaccinated.  McDermott got in trouble for suggesting that he might do that last year.  You can cut someone for no reason.  You can't, however, cut them for any reason.  Some reasons will get you in trouble with the union...and this might be one of those.

 

Right. McDermott can't come out and say Araiza was cut for this controversy because being sued by someone (even for an alleged rape) is not cause to cut a player. Araiza may well be on the team till cutdowns. It's obvious he won't be a Bill.

[Beck Water]

1 minute ago, UKBillFan said:

 

Which goes back to Tuesday again. Had we cut him over Haack because of concerns over experience (for example), the NFL PA wouldn't have been able to do a thing.

 

That's my understanding.  The Bills could have said "you've been improving with the holding Araiza, but holding is more important than punting to us and we're gonna go with the experienced hand here" and no one could blink.

[Scott7975]

2 hours ago, Beck Water said:

 

Actually, that's pretty well spelled out in the NFL Players Code of Conduct.  Criminal charges -> Commissioner's Exempt List while it sorts out.

 

 

 

 

I read in an article that I posted in this thread that the NFL already said they wont do anything because this happened before he was drafted.

[sven233]

Presser still hasn't happened.  Not surprising, though.  I don't think there is any way they can send McDermott back out there with no updates or new information from last night.  While it's his job, he drew the short straw there and was kind of just thrown to the wolves with no way to say much of anything.  I can't imagine them doing that to him again.  Bet they are tying some things up so he at least has something to say, but who knows.  Would not be surprised at all if they announce a cut or suspension.  Regardless, it feels like we're going to hear something much sooner than later no matter that they decide to do.

Edited August 27, 2022 by sven233

[Beck Water]

15 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

Right. McDermott can't come out and say Araiza was cut for this controversy because being sued by someone (even for an alleged rape) is not cause to cut a player. Araiza may well be on the team till cutdowns. It's obvious he won't be a Bill.

 

I think it's more nuanced than that?  The Bills (to my understanding) could cut a player for "conduct detrimental to the club" for being sued over something that happened while they were an NFL player, or for a criminal investigation while they are an NFL player.  The Bills could have parted ways with Shady McCoy over the nightclub brouhaha and subsequent civil suit.

 

I think the problem in this case is that the conduct in question happened before Araiza was drafted, and the CBA prohibits NFL or club discipline for that.

Edited August 27, 2022 by Beck Water

[sullim4]

150 pages ago, I thought the Bills could get away with keeping him on the roster while all of this was sorted out.  If the fanbase has spent 246+ pages discussing allegations about a punter over a period of 48 hours or so... I think it's safe to say this is enough of a distraction for the team that he has to be let go. 

 

To compare, there were only 107 pages of posts in Josh Allen's draft thread:

 

Old farts that remember "Last Post Wins" had 781 pages, and I would imagine that has the board's record for number of posts in a single thread:

 

[Breakout Squad]

Just now, sven233 said:

Presser still hasn't happened.  Not surprising, though.  I don't think there is any way they can send McDermott back out there with no updates or new information from last night.  While it's his job, he drew the short straw there and was kind of just thrown to the wolves with no way to say much of anything.  I can't imagine them doing that to him again.  Bet they are tying some things up so he at least has something to say, but who knows.  Would not be surprised at all if they announce a cut or suspension.  They have to at least take some action at this point.

They said they were going to have a press conference. They need to address this and follow through. Bills cannot just blow this off tonight. 

[Beck Water]

Just now, sven233 said:

Presser still hasn't happened.  Not surprising, though.  I don't think there is any way they can send McDermott back out there with no updates or new information from last night.  While it's his job, he drew the short straw there and was kind of just thrown to the wolves with no way to say much of anything.  I can't imagine them doing that to him again.  Bet they are tying some things up so he at least has something to say, but who knows.  Would not be surprised at all if they announce a cut or suspension.  They have to at least take some action at this point.

 

I would bet you a box of donuts that McDermott comes out and talks 100% about yesterday's game.

[dwight in philly]

Any ex Bills come out? offer an opinion ? OJ, Biscuit? 

[PromoTheRobot]

Just now, sven233 said:

Presser still hasn't happened.  Not surprising, though.  I don't think there is any way they can send McDermott back out there with no updates or new information from last night.  While it's his job, he drew the short straw there and was kind of just thrown to the wolves with no way to say much of anything.  I can't imagine them doing that to him again.  Bet they are tying some things up so he at least has something to say, but who knows.  Would not be surprised at all if they announce a cut or suspension.  They have to at least take some action at this point.

 

Cut down day is 3 days away. Monday they will sign another punter. He will "compete" with Araiza. Araiza gets cut Tuesday. NFLPA has nothing to say.

[BillsShredder83]

6 minutes ago, Rc2catch said:

Isn’t that exactly what cuts are? The coaches make gut feeling calls on who earned a spot etc etc 

 

EDIT, my bad I thought it said they CANT cut him cause they feel like it. 
apologies 

I think it opens them up to issues with nflpa. i dont think they all get lumped in together, id think MA agent could contact player assoc and make his argument for him being cut for non performance reasons.

 

just because the bills could deal with that doesnt mean they should open themselves to it. i think if we need to argue our case as to why he was cut, and need to pretend its not for the off the field stuff, itd be better to cut him amongst a pile of other players. make it look more routine then singling him out in a cut, when they arent ready to decide the others. just mho

[78thealltimegreat]

On 8/25/2022 at 6:16 PM, RaoulDuke79 said:

There are always many sides to these stories. I'd be so afraid of being a single guy and trying to hook up in this day and age. Especially if you have some notoriety. Sad situation if any of it is true. 

You are very accurate I personally know women who have played that game. If this girl really had this happen to her may she get every single penny she deserves but there are a ton of Amber Heards out there. 

[nedboy7]

I miss when Beasley was the distraction.  

[UKBillFan]

1 minute ago, Scott7975 said:

 

 

I read in an article that I posted in this thread that the NFL already said they wont do anything because this happened before he was drafted.

 

I thought someone posted something this morning which offered a potential loophole, though it's the commissioner alone who can place someone on the list. It's not something any team can request.