Prosecutors indicate that Bills punter whose life was ruined over rape accusation went home long before incident allegedly occurred

A pro football player accused of rape had his career upended and life ruined over something prosecutors now indicate he could not possibly have done.

Matt Araiza was a top punter in the NFL whose record-breaking NCAA career secured him the nickname "Punt God." Last summer, Araiza was accused along with two San Diego State University football players of gang-raping a 17-year-old at an off-campus party in 2021.

The Los Angeles Times reported that Araiza was accused of having sex with the minor outside the home and then bringing her inside, where she was allegedly repeatedly raped for over an hour.

While the then-high school senior reported slipping in and out of consciousness, she claimed to remember moments of various men violating her.

A civil lawsuit was filed in August 2022 accusing Araiza, Zavier Leonard, and Nowlin Ewaliko of taking part in the alleged rape.

At the time, Araiza's lawyer, Kerry Armstrong, said the complaint was "a shakedown because he's now with the Buffalo Bills," stressing that there was "no doubt" Araiza was innocent.

Notwithstanding the punter's profession of innocence, the accusation marked the end of Araiza's career.

The Buffalo Bills, who had recently drafted him, cut him loose just days after the suit was filed amid media outrage.

"We have released Punter Matt Araiza," the NFL team said in a statement. "This afternoon, we decided that releasing Matt Araiza was the best thing to do. Our culture in Buffalo is more important than winning football games."

General manager Brandon Beane and coach Sean McDermott addressed the matter at a press conference, calling it "tough" for everyone involved, reported ABC News.

"It's been tough. And you know, we sympathize with this whole situation, all the parties involved, this young woman, what she went through, you know, you really feel bad for that whole situation. And, you know, ultimately this is a legal situation. We don't know, you know, all the facts," said Beane.

Araiza's lawyer Armstrong released a statement following the Bills' decision, writing, "I have not talked to Matt about this yet, but I sent him a text. I am sure he 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 22-year-old I know."

The 22-year-old punter said, "The facts of the incident are not what they are portrayed in the lawsuit or in the press. I look forward to quickly setting the record straight."

Yahoo Sports reported that the San Diego Police looked into the matter for nearly 10 months before forwarding the case to the San Diego District Attorney's Office without a recommendation for prosecution.

Following a 124-day investigation of their own, prosecutors announced on Dec. 7, 2022, that they would not press any criminal charges.

This week, Yahoo Sports provided detail concerning a newly revealed 200-plus page transcript of a 100-minute meeting in which San Diego Deputy District Attorney Trisha Amador explained the matter to the accuser and her attorneys.

In the explanation, the SDDA concluded Araiza could not have led the girl into the alleged rape because he had left the home at 12:30 a.m., at least an hour before the incident supposedly occurred.

"He wasn’t even at the party any more," said Amador. "All I know is that at that point, suspect Araiza is gone from the party."

Extra to highlighting how Araiza was not even present, the prosecutors explained to the accuser that it was unclear whether a gang rape had even occurred in the first place, as intermittent video recordings of the incident raised the possibility she may have just had consensual sex with the other men.

"In looking at the videos on the sex tape, I absolutely cannot prove any forcible sexual assault based upon what happened," said Amador.

The timestamped video evidence also reportedly substantiated witness claims that Araiza was not present.

According to additional witness interviews, the accuser and some high school friends "let themselves in through a back gate" and joined the party, telling people they were 18.

"A witness who was in the house gave a statement saying that at — at least one point in the party, that you made a statement telling people at the party you were 18," Amador told the accuser. "Another witness at the party, a different one, says that they specifically heard you say you were 18."

Amador indicated that the sexual encounter the accuser had earlier in the night with Araiza — who may have been led to believe she was 18 — appears to have been consensual.

"The witnesses say … that shortly after you arrived at the party, you left and came back shortly thereafter," said Amador. "And you told [a friend], 'I just had sex.' ... You didn’t appear unhappy. You appeared to be having fun and that the encounter on the side of the house with Matt, suspect Araiza, was consensual."

Amador further explained to the accuser that another witness explained that around that time, "You were approaching men at the party saying, 'I want you to [expletive] me and if you don’t [expletive] me you’re a [expletive].'"

In the lead-up to the alleged rape, Amador also indicated the accuser was not intoxicated as the civil suit otherwise suggests.

The accuser's attorney released a statement obtained by Outkick, writing, "Team Araiza continues to litigate the case in the media because they know the information they’re leaking has no relevance whatsoever to the lawsuit. Matt Araiza will dress up in a suit and tie for tv crews at a meaningless court hearing, but he won’t speak to the media like Jane Doe has and will continue to do."

Yahoo Sports indicated that Araiza, whose life was ruined by the apparently dubious accusations, hopes the NFL may consider bringing him back, even though the civil suit remains active.

Following the revelation that Araiza may be a man traduced, Dave Portnoy tweeted, "This is crazy. Guys life was ruined on rape accusations that he has always denied and now it comes out he wasn't even at the party when the alleged crime took place. The acquittal should be as loud if not louder than the accusations.'

Conservative commentator Mat Walsh responded, "False rape accusers should receive the same penalty that we give to rapists. Instead, in the vast majority of cases, they receive no penalty at all and are free to move on like nothing happened. It's unconscionable."

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