Female who accused NFL punter of rape drops lawsuit against him. Anger boils over at accuser and Buffalo Bills, who cut him.

The female who accused then-NFL punter Matt Araiza of rape in August 2022 — an allegation that led the Buffalo Bills to cut him two days later, halting his career — has dropped her lawsuit against him.

Now anger is boiling over at the accuser and the Bills.

What are the details?

His lawyers, Dick Semerdjian and Kristen Bush, said in a statement that Araiza has always maintained his innocence and that he will never get back the time spent defending himself from the accusations, ESPN reported.

"Thankfully, there was extensive evidence that was key to securing Matt's voluntary dismissal from this lawsuit," the statement said, according to ESPN. "Matt was and has always been innocent. The case is over, and Matt has prevailed."

His lawyers said Araiza fully intends to return to the NFL, ESPN added.

Araiza was nicknamed “the Punt God” at San Diego State, where he averaged 51.19 yards per punt during the 2021 college season, an NCAA single-season record, the Buffalo News said, adding that he won the Ray Guy Award as the nation’s best college punter.

Araiza appeared to have won the punting job during the Bills' 2022 training camp, but the team cut him soon after the rape accusation. Araiza had signed a four-year contract with the Bills that would have been worth $3.8 million had he played all four years of the deal, the Buffalo News said.

He missed the 2022 season and the current season.

The San Diego District Attorney's Office concluded that Araiza could not have been part of the alleged gang rape of a 17-year-old in October 2021 because he left the off-campus party at least an hour before the incident allegedly occurred. While Araiza said he and his accuser had consensual sex outside the house earlier in the evening, he said he never entered the home, ESPN noted, adding that the district attorney's office couldn't prove Araiza knew the accuser's age or intoxication level. Prosectors announced in December 2022 that they wouldn't press any criminal charges against Araiza. San Diego State University said in May there were no findings against Araiza after investigating allegations of rape and gang rape, ESPN also said.

'She should be charged with a crime'

In the wake of Araiza's accuser dropping her lawsuit against him, a number of voices have risen up in anger at her, the Bills, and the NFL.

• "She should be charged with a crime for lying about sexual assault and face the same punishment that Araiza would have faced," OutKick's Clay Travis said.
• "The NFL owes @matt_araiza an apology. The Bills owe him back pay. And Punt God must be brought back to the league!" Greg Price declared.
• "Matt Araiza is 100% innocent and did absolutely nothing wrong," Nick Adams said. "His dishonest accuser should be the one facing criminal charges."
• "I legit feel for this kid," author Jeff Pearlman said in reference to Araiza.
• "Haven’t we learned not to rush to judgment?" OutKick's Dan Dakich asked. "Too many cases tell us let the investigation take place before condemnation."

In conjunction with his accuser — called Jane Doe — dropping her lawsuit against him, Araiza agreed to dismiss a defamation suit against her filed in July 2023, ESPN said.

More from the sports network:

Doe retains the right to continue the suit against the four other named defendants, former San Diego State teammates of Araiza. No money will be exchanged in the settlement agreement. Araiza also maintains the ability to sue the plaintiff's attorney, Dan Gilleon, and his law office, and he has retained counsel to do so.

ESPN said Gilleon did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Bills taking different approach with different player

Interestingly, Bills general manager Brandon Beane last week said linebacker Von Miller — accused of assaulting his pregnant girlfriend — was available to play in Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs while the team let the legal process proceed.

"We only have so many of the facts," Beane said in a press conference in regard to Miller. "If you look around this country, you see plenty of rushes to judgment. ... We're just trying to do the right thing."

In regard to the Bills releasing Araiza days after the rape accusation, Beane at the time said it “was the best move for everyone to move on from Matt and let him take care of this situation," the Buffalo News reported.

Araiza Lawsuits Dismissedyoutu.be

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