Former Bills Punter Matt Araiza and His Family Allegedly Receiving Death Threats Following Release

The Punt God is feeling the backlash.

The Buffalo Bills released Matt Araiza earlier this week after the filing of a civil suit alleging the NFL rookie punter and two of his former San Diego State teammates gang raped a minor back in 2021. The Bills announced the release amid a mountain of scrutiny about when the team was made aware of the allegations against the Punter and what did they really know when they drafted the man nicknamed The Punt God.

The attorney representing the former Bills Punter, Matt Araiza, is claiming death threats have been made a result of the allegations against him.

Via WIVB: 

“He and his family do not wish to speak at this time. All of us are getting numerous death threats, and they are going to all lay low for a while,” Araiza’s attorney, Kerry Armstrong, said.

Following his release, Araiza’s lawyer released the following statement:

“Matt is very upset and disappointed that his career with the Bills ended not because he played poorly, but because of false allegations leveled against him by a young lady and her attorney. I hope he is back in the NFL soon.  He deserves to be, as he is the hardest-working twenty-two-year-old I know.”

The accuser’s attorney, Dan Gilleon, claims he informed the Buffalo Bills of the accusations against the Punter at the end of July.

Gilleon said in a statement after Araiza’s release, “It was a no-brainer decision to cut Matt Araiza. It was just as easy a decision last week not to select him, at least not without conducting a legitimate investigation into the allegations. The Buffalo Bills ignored us, as though what I warned them would happen could be avoided if they just kept their heads in the sand. This is what enablers do. My client’s life was forever scarred in October 2021, but she handled herself with grace and dignity. Not once did she express to me a desire to hurt her assaulters out of revenge or hatred. She never asked for a pound of flesh. Her only ask was the kind of justice that might save other young women from the hell she experienced.”

The NFL is usually known for giving second chances, especially when you are someone who has talent. I’m guessing this isn’t the last we’ll hear from the Punt God. He very well could be back in the NFL at some point, at least I wouldn’t be surprised if he was.

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