ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Within the face of a serious public backlash and inside questions over the choice to award Matt Araiza the punting job, the Buffalo Payments reversed course by chopping the rookie on Saturday, two days after a lawsuit was filed alleging the participant and two school teammates gang-raped a teen final fall.
“The final 48 hours have been very tough for lots of people. It’s been powerful. And , we sympathize with this entire scenario, all of the events concerned, this younger lady, what she went by way of,” basic supervisor Brandon Beane mentioned throughout a 26-minute information convention alongside coach Sean McDermott.
“However right now, we simply assume it’s the most effective transfer for everybody to maneuver on from Matt and let him deal with this example and give attention to that. So, we’re gonna half methods there,” Beane added.
Beane mentioned the Payments weren’t conscious of the allegations made in opposition to Araiza on the time they drafted him. And had they identified, Beane mentioned, they’d have eliminated him from consideration.
The choice to chop ties with their sixth-round draft select of San Diego State comes after Buffalo cleared the best way for Araiza to take over the punting duties by releasing returning veteran Matt Haack on Monday.
The Payments opted then to maintain Araiza even whereas being conscious of the allegations made in opposition to him since late July. The group then stood by the participant by asserting it “performed an intensive examination” into the matter a day after the lawsuit was filed.
Beane mentioned the group did as a lot because it may in getting as many particulars as doable, whereas noting lots of the allegations have been unavailable as a result of the outcomes of the San Diego police investigation has not been launched. He mentioned the group determined to not “rush to judgment” primarily based on the data it had, whereas noting Araiza by no means modified his model of what occurred.
“You need to give everybody as a lot due course of as you possibly can. Once more, we’re not a decide and a jury,” Beane mentioned.
McDermott then interjected by saying the group did take into account the sufferer’s model of occasions as contained within the lawsuit.
“We did take these very severely. I would like everybody to know that. That’s a severe deal proper there,” McDermott mentioned.
Araiza’s launch begins to ease a disaster which has shaken the group as mirrored by McDermott having problem containing his feelings whereas discussing the scenario following a 21-0 preseason loss at Carolina on Friday night time.
McDermott made the decision to carry out Araiza from taking part in in opposition to Carolina. The participant watched the sport from an undisclosed location whereas additionally issuing a press release by way of his agent, Joe Linta, which learn: “The details of the incident aren’t what they’re portrayed within the lawsuit or within the press. I stay up for shortly setting the file straight.”
With out one other punter on the roster, third-string quarterback Matt Barkley dealt with the punting duties.
In a textual content to The Related Press, Araiza’s lawyer, Kerry Armstrong, defended his consumer by writing: “I’m certain he’s very upset and upset that his profession with the Payments ended not as a result of he performed poorly, however due to false allegations leveled in opposition to him by a younger girl and her lawyer. I hope he’s again within the NFL quickly.”
A lawsuit filed in San Diego County Superior Courtroom accused Araiza and two teammates of raping a then-17-year-old woman at a Halloween celebration at an off-campus dwelling the place Araiza had been dwelling. A San Diego police investigation has been turned over to the district lawyer’s workplace to find out whether or not to pursue fees. DA spokeswoman Tanya Sierra mentioned Friday there was no timeline as to how lengthy a call will take.
In Buffalo, the main target shifts to why the Payments weren’t conscious of the allegations in opposition to Araiza when choosing the San Diego State participant within the sixth spherical of the draft in April. Although he was school soccer’s prime punter final 12 months, and earned the nickname “Punt God” due to a booming left leg, Araiza was the third punter chosen within the draft.
It’s unclear whether or not Araiza knowledgeable the NFL concerning the allegations within the months main as much as the draft.
Executives from two completely different groups instructed The Related Press they grew to become conscious of Araiza’s involvement in an incident in the course of the draft course of, however neither particular person knew the extent of the allegations. Executives from three different groups mentioned that they had no information of the allegations in opposition to Araiza earlier than the draft and solely discovered of the incident Thursday. All of the individuals spoke to The AP on situation of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
Although it’s unclear when the Payments first grew to become conscious of the allegations, they knew by the top of July when Dan Gilleon, the lawyer representing the alleged sufferer recognized within the lawsuit as “Jane Doe,” contacted the group’s authorized counsel, Kathryn D’Angelo, by electronic mail.
“She appeared like she was involved. She says she’ll get again to me, after which she by no means did,” Gilleon mentioned. “I even adopted up and mentioned, `Hey, you guys haven’t talked to me and referred to as me again such as you mentioned you’d.′ They usually simply ignored that, too.”
Armstrong mentioned he additionally knowledgeable his consumer to be upfront and inform the Payments concerning the allegations. Armstrong mentioned he additionally stored in common contact with the Payments over the previous month to offer particulars of his personal investigation into what occurred.
“I 100% don’t imagine that he ever forcibly raped this woman or had intercourse together with her whereas she was handed out or drunk or something like that,” Armstrong mentioned.
The Payments additionally performed what they referred to as a “thorough examination,” which finally led to their determination to chop Haack.
The Payments additionally knowledgeable the NFL of the incident as soon as they have been made conscious of it, an individual conversant in the scenario instructed The AP. The particular person, talking on situation of anonymity due to the delicate nature of the matter, wasn’t sure of the timeline.
The NFL declined to remark besides to say it was conscious of the matter.
Related Press author Julie Watson and AP Professional Soccer Author Rob Maaddi contributed to this report.
Extra AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://apnews.com/hub/pro-32 and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL
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