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Matt Araiza accused of rape, served with a lawsuit.


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1 minute ago, BuffaloBud17 said:

 

That's true...but in business, entertainment and sports people are put on leave all the time when facing serious allegations like this. He at the least admitted to sleeping with a underage girl (whether he knew her age or not) and knowingly exposing her to a STD according to those texts.

 

I agree. Suspend him, put him on the practice squad, no issue with that. I wouldn't have had an issue if we had released him on Tuesday as a 'footballing' decision (even if it wasn't the reason). Now we've painted ourselves into a corner we need to extract ourselves from, where cutting will imply guilt and keeping him implies innocence.

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1 minute ago, jkirchofer said:

Nope, in the US at-will employment means your employer can fire you for any reason at anytime as long as it isn't a violation of the law. Firing someone based on allegations of a crime is permissable if they can prove it violated conditions in a contract, made you unfit for the position, or impacted the business.

 

And, in this case, we could do it arguing impact on business.

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Not saying this is the case yet, but just imagine if he’s innocent — especially if it were to be a scenario where it turns out to be a cash grab or something like that — the amount of shame that should and reasonably would be cast on all the Bills fans that are trying to ruin a young man’s career without proof of anything yet 

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1 minute ago, elijah said:

Not saying this is the case yet, but just imagine if he’s innocent — especially if it were to be a scenario where it turns out to be a cash grab or something like that — the amount of shame that should and reasonably would be cast on all the Bills fans that are trying to ruin a young man’s career without proof of anything yet 

So Beane and McD are going to make a decision based on what people said in this thread?  😂😂

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1 minute ago, elijah said:

Not saying this is the case yet, but just imagine if he’s innocent — especially if it were to be a scenario where it turns out to be a cash grab or something like that — the amount of shame that should and reasonably would be cast on all the Bills fans that are trying to ruin a young man’s career without proof of anything yet 

Man, none of us forced him to attend that party. None of us put him in the situation where accusations could be made. No one else is responsible for his actions but Matt Araiza. He should have made better choices.

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6 minutes ago, jkirchofer said:

You act like the Buffalo Bills require the same burden of proof as the courts. Just like many jobs, the NFL is at will employment. If any of us were accused of such a heinous crime, you better believe our companies would let us go due, in large part, to optics. At some point he lied to the Bills staff and to the NFL. Based on the constant preaching of culture by Bills staff that should alone be enough to cut Araiza. The only place he is innocent until proven guilty is the court of law. No one else owes him that.

By cutting him who do we hurt 1) Matt if he is in fact innocent .. he loses probably a tenth of his lifetime earnings; 2) the young lady if he is guilty as she will have less money to get from him in compensation 3) the team as whomever we get at this point will be a downgrade.

 

i suspect he was not open enough with the Bills on the situation.. probably hoping that it just goes away, but I would be shocked if he is still on the team by end of day Sunday. Having stated that the victim be it Matt if he is innocent or the young lady if he is guilty lose by the maneuver

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8 hours ago, Victory Formation said:

I commend you for your respect for women.


I do not give a hoot if Araiza is the next Moorman, get him out of here.

 

The classiest thing this franchise can do is dump him and throw him under the bus publicly.

What exactly is “ classy” about denying due process in a matter that happened while not under any Bills or NFL JURISDICTION?  How is rash emotional decision makinG BEFORE ALL FACTS ARE IN , INTERPRETED as classy and when is a subjective term like classy the basis of any court or legal precedents ?  Please present documentation, not just your personal opinion.  We are a society of due process and laws and what benefit is gained “ throwing a young adult “ under the bus “ ? Will that change the past or POSSIBLY JUST harm or create an additional victim?  Shouldn’t we act responsibly , like adults with life experience and protect all vulnerable young adults , who are those most likely to make mistakes as they grow and mature? Doesn’t the law exist to protect us all , allow for punishment based on facts , precedent , peer judgement , and allow for rehabilitation after paying restitution if found guilty?  Show me where the word classy appears in the Comstitution or Bill of rights , and please offer proof how your opinion should take precedent over our founding fathers time stood principals.  Please provide example of your legal training and expertise in such case law. 
 

 Young lives and futures are at stake and proper protocol is the precedent and most good corporations have legal teams guiding them , not just bowing to public definition of “ being classy” !  Just striking out emotionally is third world , dictatorial behavior and we can’t give in to mass hysteria behavior / mob rule just because you have an opinion on what is a non legal term, classy!  Why not take appropriate time ( I seem to remember a certain qb case going on for two years now and has resulted in said qb being found guilty yet still eligible to play , rehab a career, get 230 mil$ and had 26 civil cases he settled , so it seems logical time and following the rule of law coukd be used to fairly solve one more case !).  If you don’t agree , get involved in local politics , elect appropriate representation, become an attorney or judge , become a police officer , etc to effect positive change not just spout out non srnsical terms like “ classy thing to do “. You can even boycott a team or sport as your right , but you have no right ti act as a virtual signaling internet troll and expect serious adults to value such biased , emotionally based suggestion for action. I know I can say you don’t speak for me personally , and I hope my Bills team follows the laws and acts fairly for ALL INVOLVED.    Certainly there is some midi ground like a temporary leave while investigating the facts.  Just knee jerk quick action won’t change the past but could add more harm.  Time is an ally and adds clarity. 
 

If found guilty after due process , I am all for severing any future connection to the young man and I pray he uses this life lesson to better himself and even help young men in the future. I firmly know I am not perfect and have learned to be a better man , dr, and spouse over 65 years of life. I believe thru life experience we are all capable of positive change and hope most deserve a second chance after human mistakes are committed ( excluding non remorseful murderers or refractory mentally Ill individuals).  Classy is some term resolved for social status or elitism at the country club , and has no legal basis; it is just an emotional plea based in subjectivity. I remain open to actual written teachings / arguments in law proving otherwise.  A single opinion lacks credibility and if Mcd / Beane come out and say we did the classy thing to do , that’s when I quit following the Bills under their leadership. 
Best wishes , nothing personal , just expressing my opinion and logic behind it.  😉👍

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3 minutes ago, elijah said:

Not saying this is the case yet, but just imagine if he’s innocent — especially if it were to be a scenario where it turns out to be a cash grab or something like that — the amount of shame that should and reasonably would be cast on all the Bills fans that are trying to ruin a young man’s career without proof of anything yet 


Players get cut all the time.  The only person responsible for being cut is Araiza. 

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1 minute ago, CorkScrewHill said:

By cutting him who do we hurt 1) Matt if he is in fact innocent .. he loses probably a tenth of his lifetime earnings; 2) the young lady if he is guilty as she will have less money to get from him in compensation 3) the team as whomever we get at this point will be a downgrade.

 

i suspect he was not open enough with the Bills on the situation.. probably hoping that it just goes away, but I would be shocked if he is still on the team by end of day Sunday. Having stated that the victim be it Matt if he is innocent or the young lady if he is guilty lose by the maneuver

1) He should have made better choices.

2) Her civil case isn't about the money. Whatever amount is decided upon is up to him to come up with.

3) The Bills should have practiced what they preached when it comes to culture.

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To me the solution is to put him on the practice squad and have him practicing individually away from the team as much as possible until this is better understood. I don’t think another team would claim him, but it doesn’t seem appropriate to parade him out there on Thursday night even if he is eventually cleared of wrongdoing.  If the Bills believe he may eventually be cleared of wrongdoing I don’t think cutting him just to cave to mob rule is a good look either.  Obviously if more information comes out proving his guilt he’s cut before ever putting on the uniform. 

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3 hours ago, thewookie1 said:

People need to understand cutting Araiza isn't that simple in regards to the NFLPA. 

 

I disagree, if there is any part of this that McDermott / the organization feels like Arraiza wasn't 100% honest about they can simply say it's a matter of broken trust.  An employer isn't going to be required to keep on an employee that they feel they can't trust.

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McD clearly didn't enjoy that presser & the Q he was getting hit w/. Don't think he wants to go through that again or have any of his players exposed to Q about it (which they will be as long as Araiza's on the team). It's a clear distraction. Putting everything else aside Araiza's done for that reason alone. They're going to remove the issue & move on.

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3 minutes ago, DrPJax said:

 

If found guilty after due process , I am all for severing any future connection to the young man and I pray he uses this life lesson to better himself and even help young men in the future. 

Only if he's convicted? Watson was never found guilty of anything you know. 

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14 minutes ago, UKBillFan said:


Not sure if it’s different in the US, but in the U.K. you cannot automatically sack someone on the basis of an allegation. Suspend on full pay, yes, but not sack.

In the US you can generally fire someone for any reason at any time (other than a few protected Civil Rights type things, e.g. race, gender, etc...)

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1 hour ago, LeGOATski said:

 

It'd be great to get a timeline and details from Araiza's side.

bueno dias 2bd. LeGoatski an accurate timeline is lacking and at question right now. Crucial questions we don't know the exact truth. On the side of araiza but also the Bills organization. It would dispel a Lot of the rhetoric flowing in the chat.  Im stillllll waiting for firm answers to questions regarding if the Bills knew of this debacle before he was drafted (I think not but i could be wrong). It was floated out there yesterday that maybe the Bills were aware but decided the charges wouldnt stick, fly whatever so the reward was worth the risk. 

 

We have rhetoric out the ying yang but actual facts not so much. We have to let this play out in the courts. And trust that the Bills will do what is IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE BUFFALO BILLS... Period.

 

Now to @JakeFrommStateFarm's post saying that McDermott needs to supply answers in last nights presser. IMO he Did in the way he deemed appropriate and best for the team  last night. I think answers will come.  Respectfully I think we all need to hold our water and not criticize because said answers aren't given on our timeline. He will talk when he has more finite facts. I dont know what jake expected to hear last night frankly. This story Just broke . we all know it sucks. Not to beat a dead horse but patience is what we will need until we have answers  aka the truth

 

m

 

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If the Bills don't think he's worth their high moral character to take a chance on him, then every other team should maintain that high character standard.  No other team should go scumming. 

 

IF he lied to the Bills. 

 

Not sure what his side of story is, but how much worse can it get for the Bills?

 

Bills can use him and still claim the moral high-ground. 

 

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Serious question. Why do fans think this will derail the season? 
 

Do fans think Josh is sat thinking about this and not focused on the Rams?

 

Is Von Miller going to be so distracted he won’t be able to rush the passer?

 

I get it, it’s a bad look and bad for the Bills organizationally but I don’t get how it effects the players. Can anyone point me in a direction where something bad has happened to a football team PR wise and it’s completely derailed a season? Spygate was embarrassing for the Pats**, they proceeded to win 18 straight games. They went 12-4 and went to the AFC championship after Deflategate. Both of those situations had more to do with football and the game itself more than what a single player has done off the footballs field.

Edited by Wayne Cubed
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23 minutes ago, CSBill said:

Putting aside the way more important human side of this (the victim, Araiza, the others accused, etc.), this is me talking not as a decent human being, but simply as a fanatical fan of the Buffalo Bills. At the risk of being tied at the TBD stake to be verbally torchered, here goes . . .

 

What is obvious is this is an organizational failure, or at least a serious break in the system. Something went wrong in the process of evaluating this player's fitness for the team. There are people in the organization who are paid good money to do just that. But something broke. It seems undeniable at this point that there was publicly accessible knowledge of the accusation long before the draft. The Bills either missed that--which is inexcusable; or ignored that--which is even worse than missing it; or did know it, evaluated it, and concluded there was not enough there to stop them from drafting him.

 

Moreover, since the draft, and as recently as three weeks ago, they were presented with more information. Someone in the organization--how could Beane and McDermott not be involved at this point? And ownership?--accessed it, and decided there was not enough there to stop them from going ahead with the player involved (evidence by the release of Haack).

 

What I concluded from the events of the past few days, and most certainly from McDermott's press conference last evening, is something was either missed, or was withheld to them? Maybe? Maybe? that is all on the player and his people? In either case, the organization, the systems of the organization, failed the team.

 

Now I concede, it's possible they did know everything and concluded the evidence was false or there was nothing to this and it was worth the risk/reward to go forward with the player.

 

BUT, if that is the case, again, this is a failure of the organization to read the zeitgeist of the day (see the Browns and the public relations disaster that situation has been for them and the NFL). How could they not see what a sh*** show was coming and the potential distraction (disruption? derailment?) this could be to the team--especially for a team with such high potential and expectations.

 

Your job as leaders is to be sure all potential --and this is the key thought -- "controllable" or "preventable" distractions are avoided. It appears there were multiple exit points in the process that could have been, but were not taken.

 

So, what I conclude, is based on the information and the press conference, that their is a system break or communication problem somewhere in the Bills front offices, and that is an organizational failure. I think the emotions and response of McDermott last night clearly shows that.

 

If my theory is right, this is a watershed moment for this team. If there are some internal systems that are broke, or more likely, inadequacies, then those have to be fixed. It takes time to build Trust, but it can be lost in moment. Not to be over dramatic, but this is the moment for the Bills.

 

I do not want to the Bills to be generally categorized with the Cleveland Browns. Is it fixable? Yes. There will be damage, so what happens over the next few days will be telling.

 

As a fan, Please! Please! Please! Buffalo Bills, fix it now and do not let this derail the entire season.

 

. . . .

 

Again, this is simply me as a fan. Forgive me for any form of insensitivity this communicates to the people involved, or to anyone on this board who has ever been effected by similar horrible events. That in no way reflects my heart towards you of the people of these tragic circumstances.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My sense of this is that the organization didn't properly investigate the allegations beginning about a month ago.  Then, after Araiza refused to settle, plaintiff decided that, with Araiza having destroyed her dignity, she would destroy Araiza.  It's been a pretty successful 36 hours in that respect. 

 

In the meantime, the Bills, having not thoroughly investigated this issue, cut Araiza's competition at punter.  At that point, plaintiff had all the opportunity she needed to put the Bills in a bind, generate a major, multi-news cycle story, and leverage Araiza, his employer, the San Diego PD, and anyone else with a stake in the issue.  McDermott is left holding a bag containing part of this mess, and he's got to balance sticking with Araiza long enough to have the support of the locker room (can't look like he cuts and runs on mere allegations) with sticking too long with a guy accused of a heinous crime who, from all appearances, wasn't candid with his employers about the situation.  

 

Add in the human element of a guy who has an intelligent wife (who's probably deeply upset about this), an intelligent female boss (likely also a touch perturbed), two young daughters (I can relate there; I'm appalled), and a football team already dealing with a tragedy, and it's a real mess. 

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11 minutes ago, Wayne Cubed said:

Serious question. Why do fans think this will derail the season? 
 

Do fans think Josh is sat thinking about this and not focused on the Rams?

 

Is Von Miller going to be so distracted he won’t be able to rush the passer?

 

I get it, it’s a bad look and bad for the Bills organizationally but I don’t get how it effects the players. Can anyone point me in a direction where something bad has happened to a football team PR wise and it’s completely derailed a season? Spygate was embarrassing for the Pats**, they proceeded to won’t 18 straight games. They went 12-4 and went to the AFC championship after Deflategate. Both of those situations had more to do with football and the game itself more than what a single player has done off the footballs field.

heck NO punting is not relevant when you score on most drives right? 😉

/sarcasm

 

derail the season no way these men will put this in their rear view mirror and move forward towards their goals. a rookie derail the season I think not

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1 minute ago, HOUSE said:

 

Let's hope not. 

But we are also the fan base. They should care what we think. We buy the tickets and the jerseys. One way to force an owner to make a change is by hitting their wallet. In the scheme of things, just like all NFL players he is replaceable. Doesn't McDermott preach that "next man up" mentality?

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11 minutes ago, TheyCallMeAndy said:

I will say this after McDs presser: if Araiza lied about something to them, about anything, combined with how both lawyers appear to be trying to make this a social media battle, he’s done.

He better be done.  At this point he is a nothing but a distraction for a team that's ready to roll.  

Edited by Mark92
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9 minutes ago, CSBill said:

Putting aside the way more important human side of this (the victim, Araiza, the others accused, etc.), this is me talking not as a decent human being, but simply as a fanatical fan of the Buffalo Bills. At the risk of being tied at the TBD stake to be verbally torchered, here goes . . .

 

What is obvious is this is an organizational failure, or at least a serious break in the system. Something went wrong in the process of evaluating this player's fitness for the team. There are people in the organization who are paid good money to do just that. But something broke. It seems undeniable at this point that there was publicly accessible knowledge of the accusation long before the draft. The Bills either missed that--which is inexcusable; or ignored that--which is even worse than missing it; or did know it, evaluated it, and concluded there was not enough there to stop them from drafting him.

 

Moreover, since the draft, and as recently as three weeks ago, they were presented with more information. Someone in the organization--how could Beane and McDermott not be involved at this point? And ownership?--accessed it, and decided there was not enough there to stop them from going ahead with the player involved (evidence by the release of Haack).

 

What I concluded from the events of the past few days, and most certainly from McDermott's press conference last evening, is something was either missed, or was withheld to them? Maybe? Maybe? that is all on the player and his people? In either case, the organization, the systems of the organization, failed the team.

 

Now I concede, it's possible they did know everything and concluded the evidence was false or there was nothing to this and it was worth the risk/reward to go forward with the player.

 

BUT, if that is the case, again, this is a failure of the organization to read the zeitgeist of the day (see the Browns and the public relations disaster that situation has been for them and the NFL). How could they not see what a sh*** show was coming and the potential distraction (disruption? derailment?) this could be to the team--especially for a team with such high potential and expectations.

 

Your job as leaders is to be sure all potential --and this is the key thought -- "controllable" or "preventable" distractions are avoided. It appears there were multiple exit points in the process that could have been, but were not taken.

 

So, what I conclude, is based on the information and the press conference, that their is a system break or communication problem somewhere in the Bills front offices, and that is an organizational failure. I think the emotions and response of McDermott last night clearly shows that.

 

If my theory is right, this is a watershed moment for this team. If there are some internal systems that are broke, or more likely, inadequacies, then those have to be fixed. It takes time to build Trust, but it can be lost in moment. Not to be over dramatic, but this is the moment for the Bills.

 

I do not want to the Bills to be generally categorized with the Cleveland Browns. Is it fixable? Yes. There will be damage, so what happens over the next few days will be telling.

 

As a fan, Please! Please! Please! Buffalo Bills, fix it now and do not let this derail the entire season.

 

. . . .

 

Again, this is simply me as a fan. Forgive me for any form of insensitivity this communicates to the people involved, or to anyone on this board who has ever been effected by similar horrible events. That in no way reflects my heart towards you of the people of these tragic circumstances.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Its interesting now looking at Beane's PC after releasing Ford and his 'review the Pocess for reviewing players' comments - if he also had Araiza on his mind when he made those comments.

 

McD's PMT interview is also strange in this context, him being in such a jovial mood and making the 'great kid' comment (when he could have stuck with something more true to form 'The young man needs to prove himself in this league yada yada") - contrasted with his tone last night on the subject.  On the surface, as surprising as it would be, it does give an impression he learned more recently

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It appears to me that the Bills are trying to get this right for everyone, and it's costing them in todays world of no patience and lack of fact gathering...just immediate reaction and demand for action. 

 

I think the best scenario for them at this point is to suspend him with pay until the organization gets all the information needed to do what they believe is right.

 

Araiza should be thankful that the Bills are taking this on the chin for him, and he should be as cooperative and helpful to their fact finding process as possible.

 

Most teams would have cut him. The Browns and chiefs would keep him, regardless

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8 minutes ago, jkirchofer said:

1) He should have made better choices.

2) Her civil case isn't about the money. Whatever amount is decided upon is up to him to come up with.

3) The Bills should have practiced what they preached when it comes to culture.

 

On 1, as I understand it, he says his 'choice' was he went to a party, had consensual sex with a girl who was 21, led her to a room to rest when she asked him to do so, then left the house with witnesses agreeing this is the case. Based on his defence, he did not make 'bad' choices. If every 21 year old was imprisoned for doing this there wouldn't be enough room.

 

Of course, there is a counter allegation which says very different from above but a lot of posters seem desperate to believe either the allegations or the defence rather than allowing it to play out.

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Just now, Donuts and Doritos said:

McD clearly didn't enjoy that presser & the Q he was getting hit w/. Don't think he wants to go through that again or have any of his players exposed to Q about it (which they will be as long as Araiza's on the team). It's a clear distraction. Putting everything else aside Araiza's done for that reason alone. They're going to remove the issue & move on.

And he’s a friggin punter on top of it.  The Bills seemed more concerned about his ability to hold kicks.  

 I’m sure McDermott is seething that they just cut Haack for this guy and now Haack is already on the Colts.  Makes him and the organization look like a JV outfit.  

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4 minutes ago, Royale with Cheese said:


Or if they belong to a union.

The player's union may be able to file a grievance, but it's unlikely to do much good - all the Bills need to be able to prove is that he misled / withheld information and he's got no case.  Anyway, worst case scenario the Bills will be forced to pay his ~$700,000 contract this year.  A small price to pay to move on from this.

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26 minutes ago, BTB said:

Keeping Araiza will mean a media circus with him in the center ring, all season long. Unless there is a way to suspend him until this gets cleared up, he has to be cut…even if it means later on, he gets signed by another team and becomes a ten year all-pro.  

I think this is the reality the Bills are facing.  They are in the middle of a media ***** storm and the storm will pass as soon as Araiza is cut.  Yes, there are questions that need to be answered.  Bills organization has taken a PR hit.  I'd hate to be the person who approved the team's "thorough investigation" statement.

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36 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

I agree that this social media driven tendency to rush to judgment rather than letting the process play out is really regrettable, but there is no question that what is out there looks bad for Araiza. 

 

Personally I both believe that the allegations are likely proveable and that the burden still lies on the plaintiff (and / or state) to prove it and guilt or civil liability is for a real court not the court of public opinion. 

 

That said if, as looks likely, Araiza has lied to the Bills then he is done here in a football sense regardless of what happens later in terms of the allegations against him. 

This is the out and the way that McDermott gets out of this mess.  The Bills can say that the legal issues should run their courses.  But the separate issue is that Araiza was dishonest with the team about this incident, and that error, which is inconsistent organization ethos, is the ground for termination. 

 

It's telling to me that Araiza didn't wear the team logo at the stadium last night, and that McDermott didn't defend him (or at least suggest that brakes should be tapped in this situation) in the press conference.  

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5 hours ago, Sammy Watkins' Rib said:

 

Bingo. Beane either never relayed the full investigation findings to McDermott or worst yet never relayed any of the findings to McDermott. And the emotions that McDermott showed in the press conference and the fact that the one question he did not skirt and instead answered was one regarding finding out new information in the last 24hrs could point to riff where McDermott was left in the dark.


Find it implausible Beane withheld any information from McDermott…

 

Much more likely Ariaza gave new information to McDermott and Beane after the plane landed in Carolina… and they confronted him with the LA Times article…

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