Buffalo Bills rookie quarterback Matt Araiza, along with a former and a current San Diego State football player, are accused of gang-raping a 17-year-old girl at a house party last year, according to a civil lawsuit filed this week. according to the Los Angeles Times. Araiza, who was one of the top players in college football last season, is accused of having sex with a high school senior outside an off-campus party and then bringing her to a room where she was repeatedly raped. The other men named in the suit are Zavier Leonard and Nowlin “Pa’a” Ewaliko. Kerry Armstrong, who is Araiza’s attorney, told the Los Angeles Times that the rape allegation is false and that his investigator spoke with witnesses from the party who told a different story than the woman. “It’s a shakedown because now he’s with the Buffalo Bills,” Armstrong said. “There’s no doubt in my mind that Matt Araiza [never] rape that girl.” Araiza officially won the Bills job this week as the team released veteran Matt Haack — then claimed by the Indianapolis Colts. The rookie punt, whose nickname is “Punt God,” recorded an 82-yard punt that traveled more than 75 yards through the air in Week 1 of the preseason. The Bills issued a statement to the Los Angeles Times saying they are aware of the situation but would not comment. “We were recently made aware of a civil complaint involving Matt effective October 2021,” the Bills said in a statement Thursday. “Due to the serious nature of the complaint, we have conducted a thorough review of this matter. As this is an ongoing civil case, we will have no further comment at this time.”
