Matt Araiza hopes he’s on the other side now after a “very dark eight months.”
Araiza was accused in a civil suit last August of being part of a gang rape at a San Diego house party.
Following the allegations, Araiza was cut by the Bills, who had selected the punter in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
While the civil suit is still pending, prosecutors in San Diego have exonerated Araiza — stating that video evidence and witness statements prove he had left the party an hour before the alleged rape took place.
“I am aware that the facts of this case have been made public,” Araiza told Pro Football Talk in a statement on Tuesday night, a day after the details of the prosecutor’s 200-page report on the matter was first revealed by Yahoo Sports.
“I am deeply gratified for the thorough work of the DA’s office in San Diego and for all the witnesses that were willing to come forward and tell the truth. I am thankful that the facts of this case as provided by the witnesses will prove that what I have been saying from the beginning is, in fact, the truth.”
Prosecutors also told the accuser that video of the sex acts did not clearly show that the intercourse with the other men was forcible.
Now, Araiza is hopeful that his football career begin again.
Since the allegations were from an October 2021 party — six months before he was drafted — Araiza is not subject to NFL punishment under the league’s Personal Conduct Policy regardless off the results of the civil trial, according to PFT.
“I can only hope that now people will assess me on the facts and not what was falsely claimed in both the civil suit and in the press,” Araiza, 22, said. “I am beyond thankful for the unwavering support of both my family and friends. They have been a rock in what has been a very dark eight months for me. However, now that the truth is out, I am amazed by the thousands of emails and tweets supporting me. It has truly been a blessing to know so many people have now judged me by the facts.”
Araiza, nicknamed “Punt God,” is free to sign with any NFL team.