Matt Araiza’s NFL career ended before it really began. The kicker was released by the Buffalo Bills in August 2022, two weeks before the start of the NFL regular season, after an allegation was made public that he had participated in the gang rape of a minor during his stay in San Diego State.
Not a single fact was known about the alleged incident and no criminal charges were filed against Araiza, but the Bills relented to the part of the public that had already found the gambler guilty.
Fast forward to today, less than nine months since he was cut, and it has been determined that he was not present at the time of the alleged gang rape.
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You’d think a 22-year-old who’d been cut due to an egregious allegation he knew to be false would hold a grudge against the franchise that robbed him of his dream, but that’s not the reality.
Tomi Lahren interviews Matt Araiza on OutKick Show
Matt Araiza #19 of the Buffalo Bills walks onto the field during practice on August 5, 2022 in Orchard Park, New York. (Joshua Bessex/Getty Images)
Araiza joined the OutKick show’Tomi Lahren is not afraid‘ and explained that the Bills found out about the allegations about a month before he was officially released, and now he realizes it was the only option the franchise thought he had.
“I gave my lawyer the green light to keep them informed and give them all of our witness statements, all of our evidence,” Araiza explained. «They knew the truth, but the accusations were so strong that they had to cut me off.»
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Be sure to catch Araiza’s full reunion with Lahren on Thursday night starting at 7 pm ET on OutKick’s. Youtube, Twitter and Facebook.
FILE – Buffalo Bills punter Matt Araiza walks on the sideline during the first half of an NFL preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts at Orchard Park, New York, on Aug. 13, 2022. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus, File)
Araiza understands that the idea of ’innocent until proven guilty’ does not exist in the world we live in today. He’s had time to reflect on that sad reality, which is exactly why he has nothing against the Bills.
«It was a shock to me, growing up my whole life wanting to be a professional athlete, the idea is if I’m good enough I’ll be able to have that career and play at that level, but that wasn’t the case,» Araiza told Lahren. «I was cut off because of these accusations.»
«I have nothing against the Buffalo Bills, I wish things were handled differently,» Araiza continued. «But they treated me with respect, which I appreciate. It’s just the climate of how things are now. The accusations bring so much hate to anyone who supports the accuser that they were forced to cut me off the team.»
Araiza still faces a civil lawsuit regarding the allegations, but explained that he currently has no plans to settle.
Matt Araiza #PK01 of the San Diego State Aztecs speaks to reporters during the NFL Draft Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on March 5, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
However, he has plans to one day return to the NFL.
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«In my heart, I think I’ll get another shot in the NFL and I’m looking forward to it,» Araiza said. «I keep myself ready and waiting for the call.»