Matt Araiza accused of rape, served with a lawsuit.

[UKBillFan]

1 minute ago, BuffaloBud17 said:

 

That's true...but in business, entertainment and sports people are put on leave all the time when facing serious allegations like this. He at the least admitted to sleeping with a underage girl (whether he knew her age or not) and knowingly exposing her to a STD according to those texts.

 

I agree. Suspend him, put him on the practice squad, no issue with that. I wouldn't have had an issue if we had released him on Tuesday as a 'footballing' decision (even if it wasn't the reason). Now we've painted ourselves into a corner we need to extract ourselves from, where cutting will imply guilt and keeping him implies innocence.

[GunnerBill]

18 minutes ago, LeGOATski said:

Who's the other one?

 

Unrelated: I didn't even realize Dion Dawkins restructured his contract this week. It's been too crazy.

 

Ford.

[UKBillFan]

1 minute ago, jkirchofer said:

Nope, in the US at-will employment means your employer can fire you for any reason at anytime as long as it isn't a violation of the law. Firing someone based on allegations of a crime is permissable if they can prove it violated conditions in a contract, made you unfit for the position, or impacted the business.

 

And, in this case, we could do it arguing impact on business.

[elijah]

Not saying this is the case yet, but just imagine if he’s innocent — especially if it were to be a scenario where it turns out to be a cash grab or something like that — the amount of shame that should and reasonably would be cast on all the Bills fans that are trying to ruin a young man’s career without proof of anything yet 

[jkirchofer]

1 minute ago, UKBillFan said:

 

And, in this case, we could do it arguing impact on business.

Absolutely. At the very least him being on the roster is impacting the perception of the Bills organization.

[LabattBlue]

1 minute ago, elijah said:

Not saying this is the case yet, but just imagine if he’s innocent — especially if it were to be a scenario where it turns out to be a cash grab or something like that — the amount of shame that should and reasonably would be cast on all the Bills fans that are trying to ruin a young man’s career without proof of anything yet 

So Beane and McD are going to make a decision based on what people said in this thread?  😂😂

[jkirchofer]

1 minute ago, elijah said:

Not saying this is the case yet, but just imagine if he’s innocent — especially if it were to be a scenario where it turns out to be a cash grab or something like that — the amount of shame that should and reasonably would be cast on all the Bills fans that are trying to ruin a young man’s career without proof of anything yet 

Man, none of us forced him to attend that party. None of us put him in the situation where accusations could be made. No one else is responsible for his actions but Matt Araiza. He should have made better choices.

[CorkScrewHill]

6 minutes ago, jkirchofer said:

You act like the Buffalo Bills require the same burden of proof as the courts. Just like many jobs, the NFL is at will employment. If any of us were accused of such a heinous crime, you better believe our companies would let us go due, in large part, to optics. At some point he lied to the Bills staff and to the NFL. Based on the constant preaching of culture by Bills staff that should alone be enough to cut Araiza. The only place he is innocent until proven guilty is the court of law. No one else owes him that.

By cutting him who do we hurt 1) Matt if he is in fact innocent .. he loses probably a tenth of his lifetime earnings; 2) the young lady if he is guilty as she will have less money to get from him in compensation 3) the team as whomever we get at this point will be a downgrade.

 

i suspect he was not open enough with the Bills on the situation.. probably hoping that it just goes away, but I would be shocked if he is still on the team by end of day Sunday. Having stated that the victim be it Matt if he is innocent or the young lady if he is guilty lose by the maneuver

[TheyCallMeAndy]

I will say this after McDs presser: if Araiza lied about something to them, about anything, combined with how both lawyers appear to be trying to make this a social media battle, he’s done.

[DrPJax]

8 hours ago, Victory Formation said:

I commend you for your respect for women.

I do not give a hoot if Araiza is the next Moorman, get him out of here.

 

The classiest thing this franchise can do is dump him and throw him under the bus publicly.

What exactly is “ classy” about denying due process in a matter that happened while not under any Bills or NFL JURISDICTION?  How is rash emotional decision makinG BEFORE ALL FACTS ARE IN , INTERPRETED as classy and when is a subjective term like classy the basis of any court or legal precedents ?  Please present documentation, not just your personal opinion.  We are a society of due process and laws and what benefit is gained “ throwing a young adult “ under the bus “ ? Will that change the past or POSSIBLY JUST harm or create an additional victim?  Shouldn’t we act responsibly , like adults with life experience and protect all vulnerable young adults , who are those most likely to make mistakes as they grow and mature? Doesn’t the law exist to protect us all , allow for punishment based on facts , precedent , peer judgement , and allow for rehabilitation after paying restitution if found guilty?  Show me where the word classy appears in the Comstitution or Bill of rights , and please offer proof how your opinion should take precedent over our founding fathers time stood principals.  Please provide example of your legal training and expertise in such case law. 
 

 Young lives and futures are at stake and proper protocol is the precedent and most good corporations have legal teams guiding them , not just bowing to public definition of “ being classy” !  Just striking out emotionally is third world , dictatorial behavior and we can’t give in to mass hysteria behavior / mob rule just because you have an opinion on what is a non legal term, classy!  Why not take appropriate time ( I seem to remember a certain qb case going on for two years now and has resulted in said qb being found guilty yet still eligible to play , rehab a career, get 230 mil$ and had 26 civil cases he settled , so it seems logical time and following the rule of law coukd be used to fairly solve one more case !).  If you don’t agree , get involved in local politics , elect appropriate representation, become an attorney or judge , become a police officer , etc to effect positive change not just spout out non srnsical terms like “ classy thing to do “. You can even boycott a team or sport as your right , but you have no right ti act as a virtual signaling internet troll and expect serious adults to value such biased , emotionally based suggestion for action. I know I can say you don’t speak for me personally , and I hope my Bills team follows the laws and acts fairly for ALL INVOLVED.    Certainly there is some midi ground like a temporary leave while investigating the facts.  Just knee jerk quick action won’t change the past but could add more harm.  Time is an ally and adds clarity. 
 

If found guilty after due process , I am all for severing any future connection to the young man and I pray he uses this life lesson to better himself and even help young men in the future. I firmly know I am not perfect and have learned to be a better man , dr, and spouse over 65 years of life. I believe thru life experience we are all capable of positive change and hope most deserve a second chance after human mistakes are committed ( excluding non remorseful murderers or refractory mentally Ill individuals).  Classy is some term resolved for social status or elitism at the country club , and has no legal basis; it is just an emotional plea based in subjectivity. I remain open to actual written teachings / arguments in law proving otherwise.  A single opinion lacks credibility and if Mcd / Beane come out and say we did the classy thing to do , that’s when I quit following the Bills under their leadership. 
Best wishes , nothing personal , just expressing my opinion and logic behind it.  😉👍

[LeGOATski]

4 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Ford.

Man, I totally missed something. I'll look into it. Don't want to get off topic here.

[WotAGuy]

3 minutes ago, elijah said:

Not saying this is the case yet, but just imagine if he’s innocent — especially if it were to be a scenario where it turns out to be a cash grab or something like that — the amount of shame that should and reasonably would be cast on all the Bills fans that are trying to ruin a young man’s career without proof of anything yet 

Players get cut all the time.  The only person responsible for being cut is Araiza. 

[Beast]

16 minutes ago, UKBillFan said:

Since when has guilty until proven innocent been a thing?

Since when does an employer have to adhere to innocent until proven guilty? That’s for the court room.

[jkirchofer]

1 minute ago, CorkScrewHill said:

By cutting him who do we hurt 1) Matt if he is in fact innocent .. he loses probably a tenth of his lifetime earnings; 2) the young lady if he is guilty as she will have less money to get from him in compensation 3) the team as whomever we get at this point will be a downgrade.

 

i suspect he was not open enough with the Bills on the situation.. probably hoping that it just goes away, but I would be shocked if he is still on the team by end of day Sunday. Having stated that the victim be it Matt if he is innocent or the young lady if he is guilty lose by the maneuver

1) He should have made better choices.

2) Her civil case isn't about the money. Whatever amount is decided upon is up to him to come up with.

3) The Bills should have practiced what they preached when it comes to culture.

[illinipj3]

To me the solution is to put him on the practice squad and have him practicing individually away from the team as much as possible until this is better understood. I don’t think another team would claim him, but it doesn’t seem appropriate to parade him out there on Thursday night even if he is eventually cleared of wrongdoing.  If the Bills believe he may eventually be cleared of wrongdoing I don’t think cutting him just to cave to mob rule is a good look either.  Obviously if more information comes out proving his guilt he’s cut before ever putting on the uniform. 

[Captain Caveman]

3 hours ago, thewookie1 said:

People need to understand cutting Araiza isn't that simple in regards to the NFLPA. 

 

I disagree, if there is any part of this that McDermott / the organization feels like Arraiza wasn't 100% honest about they can simply say it's a matter of broken trust.  An employer isn't going to be required to keep on an employee that they feel they can't trust.

[Donuts and Doritos]

McD clearly didn't enjoy that presser & the Q he was getting hit w/. Don't think he wants to go through that again or have any of his players exposed to Q about it (which they will be as long as Araiza's on the team). It's a clear distraction. Putting everything else aside Araiza's done for that reason alone. They're going to remove the issue & move on.

[pigpen65]

3 minutes ago, DrPJax said:

 

If found guilty after due process , I am all for severing any future connection to the young man and I pray he uses this life lesson to better himself and even help young men in the future. 

Only if he's convicted? Watson was never found guilty of anything you know. 

[Captain Caveman]

14 minutes ago, UKBillFan said:

Not sure if it’s different in the US, but in the U.K. you cannot automatically sack someone on the basis of an allegation. Suspend on full pay, yes, but not sack.

In the US you can generally fire someone for any reason at any time (other than a few protected Civil Rights type things, e.g. race, gender, etc...)

[muppy]

1 hour ago, LeGOATski said:

 

It'd be great to get a timeline and details from Araiza's side.

bueno dias 2bd. LeGoatski an accurate timeline is lacking and at question right now. Crucial questions we don't know the exact truth. On the side of araiza but also the Bills organization. It would dispel a Lot of the rhetoric flowing in the chat.  Im stillllll waiting for firm answers to questions regarding if the Bills knew of this debacle before he was drafted (I think not but i could be wrong). It was floated out there yesterday that maybe the Bills were aware but decided the charges wouldnt stick, fly whatever so the reward was worth the risk. 

 

We have rhetoric out the ying yang but actual facts not so much. We have to let this play out in the courts. And trust that the Bills will do what is IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE BUFFALO BILLS... Period.

 

Now to @JakeFrommStateFarm's post saying that McDermott needs to supply answers in last nights presser. IMO he Did in the way he deemed appropriate and best for the team  last night. I think answers will come.  Respectfully I think we all need to hold our water and not criticize because said answers aren't given on our timeline. He will talk when he has more finite facts. I dont know what jake expected to hear last night frankly. This story Just broke . we all know it sucks. Not to beat a dead horse but patience is what we will need until we have answers  aka the truth

 

m

 

Edited August 27, 2022 by muppy