Bills to free rookie punter Matt Araiza amid gang rape allegation

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The Buffalo Bills are releasing rookie punter Matt Araiza, the team announced on Saturday, two days after Araiza and two of his former San Diego State University football teammates were charged in a civil trial for participating in a gang rape of a minor at a party. last year in an off-campus residence.

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« At the end of the day, it’s a legal situation, » Bills general manager Brandon Beane said during an evening press conference at the team’s practice facility in Orchard Park, NY. « We don’t know all the facts, and that’s what makes it difficult. But at the moment we just think it’s the best decision for everyone to leave Matt and let him deal with it. this situation and focus on that. And so we’re going to separate there.

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Araiza did not participate in the Bills’ practice earlier Saturday after coach Sean McDermott held him back from Friday night’s preseason game against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte.

« The facts of the incident are not what they are portrayed in the lawsuit or in the press, » Araiza said in a statement released Friday through his agent. « I look forward to quickly setting the record straight. »

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The lawsuit, dated Thursday, was filed in California Superior Court in San Diego County. He identifies the complainant as Jane Doe and says she was 17 at the time of the alleged October 17 incident. raped Doe. . . inside the Residence during a Halloween party.

Araiza’s attorney, Kerry Armstrong, denied the rape allegations, telling the Los Angeles Times that the woman’s accusations were « a shakedown. » The Times reported that the district attorney’s office is evaluating evidence submitted by detectives to determine whether to file criminal charges.

The NFL’s personal conduct policy would not apply to Araiza in this case, even if the charges are true, because the alleged incident happened before he was chosen by the Bills in the sixth round of the draft. of this year’s NFL.

The post was unofficial on Saturday, as it did not appear on the league’s trade feed. The Bills announced the move later Saturday.