It cannot be overstated: this incident ruined this kid’s life. And it was all a lie. The wheels of justice spin slowly, which applies to all parties involved—guilty and innocent. We’ve all read stories of being exonerated for crimes they never committed years, even decades, after they were wrongly convicted. And for the worst of society, the true cancers, like murderers, rapists, and child abusers, it also takes time to lock them up. For those on death row, that wait is also exceedingly long. In some cases, the state moves so slowly in disposing of our most depraved convicts that they live to see their respective state legislatures abolish capital punishment. Yet, throughout it all, those who are wrongfully accused are powerless to see their life and reputations burned to ash. That’s exactly what happened to former Buffalo Bills’ punter Matt Araiza.
Selected in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL draft, Araiza seemed groomed to become the franchise’s long-term answer at the position. Then came the allegation that he was involved in a gang rape while attending San Diego State. Already declared guilty by the court of public opinion and those who manage the Bills’ public image, Araiza was cut from the team before the start of the official season that year (via Bills Wire):
The Buffalo Bills have released punter Matt Araiza amid a backlash of criticism after the rookie was accused in a gang-rape lawsuit this week. Adam Schefter was the first to report the news, and general manager Brandon Beane confirmed it during a press conference on Saturday.
… Araiza was one of three football players named in a civil lawsuit that accuses them of raping a 17-year-old girl last year while they attended San Diego State.
In the initial wake of the lawsuit, the team released a statement that noted the organization “conducted a thorough examination” of the situation involving Araiza.
Reports indicate the team knew about a potential lawsuit as early as late July. Teams aconduct extensive background checks on potential draft picks. Araiza was a sixth-round selection by Buffalo in April’s draft.