After allegations of a gang rape at his alma mater, San Diego State University, allegedly involving him and two other players, the Buffalo Bills have released rookie punter Matt Araiza.
The team benched Matt Araiza, 22, after learning about the allegation last week. Now, Ariaza is no longer a member of the team. The accusation, according to general manager Brandon Beane, was "larger than football" and the team struggled to get answers from Araiza about the claims.
“There are many things that we could not get our hands on,” Beane said. “This was about letting Matt go handle his situation.”
Prior to selecting Araiza in April's NFL Draft, it was unknown whether the Bills were aware of the rape claims. The Athletic, though, says that the team didn't find out until this past month.
The 17-year-old accuses the football player and two other people of raping her, and the civil lawsuit reveals the incident in graphic detail.
She claims Araiza offered her a drink even though she was already intoxicated, and she thinks the drink included more than just alcohol. She thinks it had something other than alcohol that made you feel intoxicated.
After their brief meeting, Araiza took the girl into a room and had sex with her. Then she says she was continuously sexually assaulted her by other.
The minor went to the San Diego Police Department to report the alleged assault and get a rape kit done following the assault.
The teenager claims that as many as 20 men sexually assaulted her that night, even though Araize was one of three former San Diego State teammates cited in the case along with Zavier Leonard and Nowlin "Pa'a" Ewaliko.
Araiza released a statement which said “The facts of the incident are not what they are portrayed in the lawsuit or in the press. I look forward to quickly setting the record straight.”