‘From the moment the details of the lawsuit were made public Thursday by the Los Angeles Times, the Bills’ response has been puzzling, at best, and troubling, at worst.’
Archives for August 2022
These punters are options for the Buffalo Bills after releasing Matt Araiza
‘The Bengals have a punter competition. Chrisman had a 65-yard punt in the final preseason game and may have taken the lead in the battle as he tries to unset veteran Kevin Huber. The Cincinnati native was the top punting prospect in the country out of high school. He played at Ohio State and was a second-team All-Big Ten member with a 45.0 punt average as a senior in 2021. He was supposed to compete for the job last year but suffered an injury. Chrisman is getting another shot with the Bengals.’
Who survives Tuesday’s cuts? Buffalo Bills FINAL 53-man roster projection
‘Blackshear had a phenomenal preseason, and the Bills will surely hope to get him back on their practice squad. The problem is going to be that teams are going to scoop up a bunch of Buffalo’s young players on waivers.’
Everything we’re hearing on Buffalo Bills’ punter vacancy following Matt Araiza’s release
‘It’s possible that one of the four punters could eventually get signed if the Bills miss out on a few of the veterans that become available in the ensuing days, but a practice squad spot may be more of a possibility. One name to watch for a potential practice squad spot is Long. He can hold, kick and punt.’
Reviewing Bills GM Beane’s comments regarding release of P Matt Araiza
‘He also stated that if the team had known of the allegations, they would not have pursued the former San Diego St. specialist. “If we had this and we get things like this from guys, you know how important the character and the culture is to Sean and me,” he said. “And anything that would have been lingering, that would have been off our (draft) board.”’
Two NFL teams had Matt Araiza red flags before draft
‘The Bills, though, were aware that Araiza was the subject of a police investigation when they released Matt Haack — his competition for the starting punter job — on Monday. The victim’s lawyer, Dan Gilleon, said the Bills also ignored his warnings about Araiza in late July.’
Between BYU and the Bills, why does sports make doing the right thing so hard?
‘They probably thought they could skate because the alleged crime took place before Araiza was in the NFL.’
Lawyer for alleged victim in gang-rape lawsuit against ex-Bills punter rips team following player’s release
‘”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.”‘
Where do things stand with Memorandum of Understanding for Bills stadium deal?
‘Perhaps the biggest holdup with the MOU coming together and getting finalized is negotiations regarding the community benefits agreement. However, there have been no updates on the progress of negotiations since late July after members of the negotiating party signed a non-disclosure agreement, barring them from speaking on the matter.
Accuser’s attorney responds to Buffalo Bills releasing Matt Araiza
‘The Buffalo Bills had no choice but to cut their young punter after so badly botching their response to our claim: they ignored us, as though what I warned them would happen could be avoided if they just kept their heads in the sand.’
Josh Allen ranked No. 13 on NFL Top 100 reveal
‘Allen slotted in at No. 13 overall, the second season in a row he’s been listed among the top 15 players in the league.’
With preseason in the books, a final 53-man Bills roster projection
‘Cuts (3): Taiwan Jones, Duke Johnson, Raheem Blackshear.’
Bills release punter Matt Araiza after rape allegations in civil suit
‘Beane made it clear Araiza’s version of the events on the night in question were different than what is alleged in the lawsuit. Araiza released a statement Friday night through his agent saying the “facts of the incident are not what they are portrayed in the lawsuit” and that he looked forward to “quickly setting the record straight.”’
After rape allegation against Matt Araiza, the Bills faced a difficult choice
‘If the team didn’t cut Araiza, the public relations fallout would have come swiftly, Drew said. “You can never ignore the PR part of it. It should always be a consideration,” Drew said. “In the climate that we live in today, I would be concerned that sponsors may step forward next and put pressure on the Bills.”’
A look at the veteran options for Bills at punter now that Matt Ariaza is out
‘Perhaps the most prominent is Grand Island native Brett Kern, who is locked in a battle for his job on the Tennessee Titans with rookie Brett Stonehouse. Whichever one loses could be a candidate for the Bills, and speculation in Tennessee is Stonehouse might win the job. Stonehouse was not drafted but left Colorado State as the NCAA career leader in average yards per punt at 47.8. Kern, 36, has held the punting job with the Titans for 13 years and made the Pro Bowl in 2017, 2018 and 2019.’