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NFL Random Thought of the Day
- Thread starter Wolf
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Texansballer74
The Marine
TexansBull
Hall of Fame
6 gamesAnother fine addition to the NFL.......Haslam should be salivating to make him a Watson bunk mate.
**************************************************************************************************************************************************
Matt Araiza is sued for gang rape
Posted by Mike Florio on August 25, 2022, 6:54 PM EDT
Bills rookie punter Matt Araiza, who has quickly risen to fame with a strong leg and a catchy nickname, faces a very serious off-field issue before his first NFL game.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Araiza is among the defendants in a civil lawsuit alleging gang rape. The other defendants are Zavier Leonard and Nowlin “Pa’a” Ewaliko. All three men were San Diego State football players at the time of the alleged incident.
The incident allegedly occurred last year, at an off-campus party. The alleged victim was 17 years old.
Araiza’s lawyer said the accusation is false, and he accused the plaintiff of making a “money grab.” (As we recently learned in the Deshaun Watson case, it’s always a money grab, until it isn’t.)
“It’s a shakedown because he’s now with the Buffalo Bills,” Kerry Armstrong told the Times. “There is no doubt in my mind that Matt Araiza ever raped that girl.”
There is an ongoing criminal investigation of the incident. No arrests have been made, and San Diego police have not publicly identified any suspects.
The Times previously reported that the university failed to alert the campus community about the alleged incident, and that the school waited more than seven months to launch an investigation.
“We were recently made aware of a civil complaint involving Matt from October 2021,” the Bills said in a statement to the Times on Thursday. “Due to the serious nature of the complaint, we conducted a thorough examination of this matter. As this is an ongoing civil case, we will have no other comment at this point.”
The NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy does not apply to incidents occurring before a player enters the NFL, either via the draft or by signing as an undrafted free agent. However, such allegations can become relevant to the punishment imposed for any off-field misconduct occurring after the player joins an NFL team.
Damn, they got video. He’s done
OptimisticTexan
2024 / Rebuilding Block 4 After Playoffs / Texans
I guess ESPN showed the time of a sub 4-4-40. My finger could’ve been a tad slow but someone else should try to time and confirm a 4.3+ time. Crazy impressive if that time could be verified.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
Looks like college football this year has changed "cut blocking" rules to protect against injuries that occurred to Thibodeaux.
*************************************
Rule Change 5 – Blocking Below the Waist (Rule 9-1-6)
Impact – Major
This is the BIG one for this cycle and it’s one that, if you have been reading this column for the last few years, I have mentioned will be getting more and more restrictive. This all started back around 2011 with Rogers Redding and the committee finding that knee injuries were one of the most detrimental types of injury players were facing. Sure, the targeting and head injuries were a big problem too but that was mostly done to prevent lawsuits and federal litigation that would have caused major problems for football even existing. But if you ask any player (Jaylon Smith) if they would rather get a concussion or blow out their knees, I guarantee you 100% of them will take the concussion. Head injuries last 2-3 weeks on average but a knee injury costs you an entire season and often can destroy a player’s career.
Therefore, there has been a concerted effort to eliminate low blocking from the game completely. But as Rogers mentioned then, it was not going to be something they could just throw away instantly, it was going to have to take a while to phase it out. And we’ve seen the drastic reduction.
It all began with the direction of where you could block low (split ends, could only block low towards the sideline) and the 10-2 was invented. That first rule also changed the philosophy of "low blocks are only illegal when" to "low blocks are only LEGAL when…" That meant that if there was any question, a low block should be first considered a foul but wouldn’t be in certain conditions. We then got area of focus because we saw players that technically blocked within the 10-2 region but players were still getting hurt because they were looking the other way and couldn’t protect themselves.
NOW…this is the biggest whack to low blocking that I’ve ever seen. I think in the next cycle, we might see them officially take it out. And when they do, the College game will mimic high school (other than in Texas) football because in the high school game, ALL low blocks are a foul.
Starting this year, practically only OL players will be able to block immediately after the ball is snapped. You’ll be able to read the exact wording below but that’s my quick summary of what the impact will be. Ball is snapped and if your tackles/guards/center are going to low block they’re going to have to do it right then. Looking at the videos that Shaw has put out on it, you MIGHT be able to still get a pulling guard or maybe a Tight End (as long as he’s aligned behind a tackle) on a pull block, but you’re going to have to be careful about where the ball is at the time the block is made.
The longer explanation is that only players that are either on the line within the tackle box (which is centered on the snapper and extends 5-yards to either side) and backs that are within the tackle box and STATIONARY at the snap (basically your RBs) are the only players that can low block. And if they low block, it must be on the INITIAL line charge and it must occur within the tackle box. This means that RBs that are in blitz protection are fine if it happens inside the box. The tricky part of this for players is that the tackle box disintegrates as soon as the ball leaves it. So, if you have no tackle box, of course you can’t low block WITHIN that box.
Here's an example:
QB #12 takes the snap and either a) drops straight back to pass or b) takes 5 steps to his left outside the left tackle. Blitzing LB #45 is blocked below the waist by RB #25 directly behind the LG. The ball is thrown and caught by WR #87 20-yards downfield.
Ruling: In a) the block is legal because the block occurs within the tackle box. B) Penalty for blocking below the waist, 15 yards from the previous spot. While the block occurred in what had been the tackle box, as soon as the ball leaves the tackle box, the box disintegrates.
The other big change to this rule is that the 5-yard belt is eliminated for both the offense AND the defense. Before, if there was a lead blocker and a defender cut him low and a teammate made a tackle within 5 yards of the line of scrimmage, that was fine. Now…that’s a foul because it’s not within 1-yard of the line. It also would probably be outside the tackle box, which is ALSO illegal but you get my point.
Exact Rule Wording:
ARTICLE 6.
a. Team A prior to a change of team possession:
1. Linemen with initial position completely inside the tackle box may legally block below the waist inside the tackle box on their initial line charge. A block initiated 1-yard beyond the neutral zone is considered within the tackle box. After the initial line charge, these linemen may block below the waist within the tackle box until the ball leaves the tackle box only if the force of the initial contact is directed from the front.
2. Stationary Backs lined up within the tackle box may block below the waist within the tackle box until the ball leaves the tackle box only if the force of the initial contact is directed from the front. "Directed from the front" is defined as within the clock face region between "10 o’clock and 2 o’clock" forward of the area of concentration of the player being blocked.
3. All other Team A players are not allowed to block below the waist.
b. Team B prior to a change of team possession:
1. Players aligned in a stationary position within 1-yard of the line of scrimmage within the tackle box may legally block below the waist in the tackle box on their initial line charge.
2. All other Team B players are not allowed to block below the waist except against a ball carrier.
*************************************
Rule Change 5 – Blocking Below the Waist (Rule 9-1-6)
Impact – Major
This is the BIG one for this cycle and it’s one that, if you have been reading this column for the last few years, I have mentioned will be getting more and more restrictive. This all started back around 2011 with Rogers Redding and the committee finding that knee injuries were one of the most detrimental types of injury players were facing. Sure, the targeting and head injuries were a big problem too but that was mostly done to prevent lawsuits and federal litigation that would have caused major problems for football even existing. But if you ask any player (Jaylon Smith) if they would rather get a concussion or blow out their knees, I guarantee you 100% of them will take the concussion. Head injuries last 2-3 weeks on average but a knee injury costs you an entire season and often can destroy a player’s career.
Therefore, there has been a concerted effort to eliminate low blocking from the game completely. But as Rogers mentioned then, it was not going to be something they could just throw away instantly, it was going to have to take a while to phase it out. And we’ve seen the drastic reduction.
It all began with the direction of where you could block low (split ends, could only block low towards the sideline) and the 10-2 was invented. That first rule also changed the philosophy of "low blocks are only illegal when" to "low blocks are only LEGAL when…" That meant that if there was any question, a low block should be first considered a foul but wouldn’t be in certain conditions. We then got area of focus because we saw players that technically blocked within the 10-2 region but players were still getting hurt because they were looking the other way and couldn’t protect themselves.
NOW…this is the biggest whack to low blocking that I’ve ever seen. I think in the next cycle, we might see them officially take it out. And when they do, the College game will mimic high school (other than in Texas) football because in the high school game, ALL low blocks are a foul.
Starting this year, practically only OL players will be able to block immediately after the ball is snapped. You’ll be able to read the exact wording below but that’s my quick summary of what the impact will be. Ball is snapped and if your tackles/guards/center are going to low block they’re going to have to do it right then. Looking at the videos that Shaw has put out on it, you MIGHT be able to still get a pulling guard or maybe a Tight End (as long as he’s aligned behind a tackle) on a pull block, but you’re going to have to be careful about where the ball is at the time the block is made.
The longer explanation is that only players that are either on the line within the tackle box (which is centered on the snapper and extends 5-yards to either side) and backs that are within the tackle box and STATIONARY at the snap (basically your RBs) are the only players that can low block. And if they low block, it must be on the INITIAL line charge and it must occur within the tackle box. This means that RBs that are in blitz protection are fine if it happens inside the box. The tricky part of this for players is that the tackle box disintegrates as soon as the ball leaves it. So, if you have no tackle box, of course you can’t low block WITHIN that box.
Here's an example:
QB #12 takes the snap and either a) drops straight back to pass or b) takes 5 steps to his left outside the left tackle. Blitzing LB #45 is blocked below the waist by RB #25 directly behind the LG. The ball is thrown and caught by WR #87 20-yards downfield.
Ruling: In a) the block is legal because the block occurs within the tackle box. B) Penalty for blocking below the waist, 15 yards from the previous spot. While the block occurred in what had been the tackle box, as soon as the ball leaves the tackle box, the box disintegrates.
The other big change to this rule is that the 5-yard belt is eliminated for both the offense AND the defense. Before, if there was a lead blocker and a defender cut him low and a teammate made a tackle within 5 yards of the line of scrimmage, that was fine. Now…that’s a foul because it’s not within 1-yard of the line. It also would probably be outside the tackle box, which is ALSO illegal but you get my point.
Exact Rule Wording:
ARTICLE 6.
a. Team A prior to a change of team possession:
1. Linemen with initial position completely inside the tackle box may legally block below the waist inside the tackle box on their initial line charge. A block initiated 1-yard beyond the neutral zone is considered within the tackle box. After the initial line charge, these linemen may block below the waist within the tackle box until the ball leaves the tackle box only if the force of the initial contact is directed from the front.
2. Stationary Backs lined up within the tackle box may block below the waist within the tackle box until the ball leaves the tackle box only if the force of the initial contact is directed from the front. "Directed from the front" is defined as within the clock face region between "10 o’clock and 2 o’clock" forward of the area of concentration of the player being blocked.
3. All other Team A players are not allowed to block below the waist.
b. Team B prior to a change of team possession:
1. Players aligned in a stationary position within 1-yard of the line of scrimmage within the tackle box may legally block below the waist in the tackle box on their initial line charge.
2. All other Team B players are not allowed to block below the waist except against a ball carrier.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
Aaron Donald brings new meaning to Helmet-to-Helmet contact.........SMH
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
Neither the team or NFL has acted.
leebigeztx
Keep it Movin!
Thing is, he wasn't a 4.4 guy coming out
paycheck71
Hall of Fame
No doubt, there's more video that the league will review.
TheRealJoker
Hall of Fame
And they wont… Stars get a pass.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
He may likely get a delayed relatively soft one.
TheRealJoker
Hall of Fame
Yep. The NFL will continue to reveal their weasel-like double-standards. Myles Garrett was suspended for the rest of the season. A star like Donald will get a $50,000 fine that will ultimately be negotiated down to $15,000.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
NFL punter Matt Araiza and two San Diego State football players accused in gang-rape lawsuit
BY COLLEEN SHALBY,
ROBERT J. LOPEZ
AUG. 25, 2022 UPDATED 3:23 PM PT
A civil lawsuit filed Thursday in state court accuses three past and present San Diego State University football players — including a top punter now in the NFL — of gang raping a 17-year-old girl last year at an off-campus party.
Matt Araiza, 22, whose powerful and precision kicking in college earned him the moniker “Punt God,” was accused of having sex with the minor outside the home and then bringing her inside to a room where she was repeatedly raped. The lawsuit, filed in San Diego County Superior Court, alleges that the then-high school senior went in and out of consciousness but remembers moments as the men took turns assaulting her.
The other men named in the complaint are Zavier Leonard and Nowlin “Pa’a” Ewaliko. Leonard is listed on the university’s fall football roster as a redshirt freshman. Ewaliko was on the team last year as a freshman but is not on the current roster.
Araiza’s lawyer, Kerry Armstrong, said he hadn’t reviewed the complaint but called the rape accusation false. He said his investigator spoke to witnesses from the party who contradict the allegations against Araiza.
“It’s a shakedown because he’s now with the Buffalo Bills,” Armstrong said, adding, “There is no doubt in my mind” that Araiza didn’t rape her.
Attorney Marc Xavier Carlos, who is representing Ewaliko in an ongoing criminal investigation of the incident, said he could not comment on the lawsuit and that he was still investigating what transpired. He said his client is no longer at San Diego State. Attorney Jamahl Kersey, representing Leonard, said he had not seen the lawsuit and could not comment. He noted that a criminal investigation is ongoing and said no conclusions about his client should be drawn.
The lawsuit comes as San Diego State faces ongoing criticism after a Times investigation found that the university decided not to alert the campus community about the alleged gang rape and waited more than seven months to launch its own investigation.
Campus officials have said police asked them to not take any action that would compromise their investigation and that they were not required by federal law to send out a crime notification. After The Times report, San Diego State officials began posting some information about the October incident on a campus website.
No arrests have been made and San Diego police have not publicly identified any suspects. Detectives recently submitted their investigation to the San Diego County district attorney’s office to determine whether charges should be filed.
The university launched a Title IX investigation last month after the city police department notified the school that doing so would not jeopardize the criminal inquiry. Title IX is the federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex at federally funded educational institutions. Araiza and Ewaliko would not have to comply with the campus investigation since they are no longer at the school.
If you or someone you know needs help, contact the RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) sexual assault hotline at (800) 656-4673 or visit the National Sexual Violence Resource Center.
Araiza earlier this week won the starting punting job for the Bills, among the early favorites to win Super Bowl LVII, after the team released veteran punter Matt Haack.
At San Diego State, he became the second player in program history to earn unanimous first-team All-American accolades. He set several NCAA records as a junior this past season, including for the most punts over 50 yards, and won the Ray Guy Award as the nation’s best collegiate punter.
After being named Mountain West Conference special teams player of the year, he declared for the NFL draft.
Whether the lawsuit will affect Araiza’s pro status is unclear.
The lawsuit’s allegation comes on the heels of the NFL’s recent announcement that Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson will serve an 11-game suspension without pay after being accused by more than two dozen women of sexual misconduct during massage sessions. Watson must also pay a $5-million fine, undergo evaluation by behavioral experts and follow their suggested treatment program.
“We were recently made aware of a civil complaint involving Matt from October 2021,” the Bills said in a statement to The Times on Thursday. “Due to the serious nature of the complaint, we conducted a thorough examination of this matter. As this is an ongoing civil case, we will have no other comment at this point.”
Araiza’s name surfaced in connection with the rape allegation in at least one report made by student-athletes within days of the party to San Diego State officials through an anonymous campus reporting system.
“I hope this isn’t true for Matt’s sake,” a student said in an Oct. 26 report that was reviewed by The Times along with other internal records in the case. “But if it’s true I hope he gets the repercussions he deserves and [the] girl gets justice.”
At the time, the San Diego State Aztec football team was enjoying one of its best seasons in years.
Records show that one athlete told campus officials that students who had heard about the incident were questioning why campus officials had not investigated and whether coaches were “trying to sweep it under the rug because our football team is doing so well.”
“Ninety-nine percent of the football players are aware of the five-person rape so the rest of the student-athletes are left wondering why nothing is being done,” the student said.
THE REST OF THE STORY ACCOUNTING DETAILS
BY COLLEEN SHALBY,
ROBERT J. LOPEZ
AUG. 25, 2022 UPDATED 3:23 PM PT
A civil lawsuit filed Thursday in state court accuses three past and present San Diego State University football players — including a top punter now in the NFL — of gang raping a 17-year-old girl last year at an off-campus party.
Matt Araiza, 22, whose powerful and precision kicking in college earned him the moniker “Punt God,” was accused of having sex with the minor outside the home and then bringing her inside to a room where she was repeatedly raped. The lawsuit, filed in San Diego County Superior Court, alleges that the then-high school senior went in and out of consciousness but remembers moments as the men took turns assaulting her.
The other men named in the complaint are Zavier Leonard and Nowlin “Pa’a” Ewaliko. Leonard is listed on the university’s fall football roster as a redshirt freshman. Ewaliko was on the team last year as a freshman but is not on the current roster.
Araiza’s lawyer, Kerry Armstrong, said he hadn’t reviewed the complaint but called the rape accusation false. He said his investigator spoke to witnesses from the party who contradict the allegations against Araiza.
“It’s a shakedown because he’s now with the Buffalo Bills,” Armstrong said, adding, “There is no doubt in my mind” that Araiza didn’t rape her.
Attorney Marc Xavier Carlos, who is representing Ewaliko in an ongoing criminal investigation of the incident, said he could not comment on the lawsuit and that he was still investigating what transpired. He said his client is no longer at San Diego State. Attorney Jamahl Kersey, representing Leonard, said he had not seen the lawsuit and could not comment. He noted that a criminal investigation is ongoing and said no conclusions about his client should be drawn.
The lawsuit comes as San Diego State faces ongoing criticism after a Times investigation found that the university decided not to alert the campus community about the alleged gang rape and waited more than seven months to launch its own investigation.
Campus officials have said police asked them to not take any action that would compromise their investigation and that they were not required by federal law to send out a crime notification. After The Times report, San Diego State officials began posting some information about the October incident on a campus website.
No arrests have been made and San Diego police have not publicly identified any suspects. Detectives recently submitted their investigation to the San Diego County district attorney’s office to determine whether charges should be filed.
The university launched a Title IX investigation last month after the city police department notified the school that doing so would not jeopardize the criminal inquiry. Title IX is the federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex at federally funded educational institutions. Araiza and Ewaliko would not have to comply with the campus investigation since they are no longer at the school.
If you or someone you know needs help, contact the RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) sexual assault hotline at (800) 656-4673 or visit the National Sexual Violence Resource Center.
Araiza earlier this week won the starting punting job for the Bills, among the early favorites to win Super Bowl LVII, after the team released veteran punter Matt Haack.
At San Diego State, he became the second player in program history to earn unanimous first-team All-American accolades. He set several NCAA records as a junior this past season, including for the most punts over 50 yards, and won the Ray Guy Award as the nation’s best collegiate punter.
After being named Mountain West Conference special teams player of the year, he declared for the NFL draft.
Whether the lawsuit will affect Araiza’s pro status is unclear.
The lawsuit’s allegation comes on the heels of the NFL’s recent announcement that Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson will serve an 11-game suspension without pay after being accused by more than two dozen women of sexual misconduct during massage sessions. Watson must also pay a $5-million fine, undergo evaluation by behavioral experts and follow their suggested treatment program.
“We were recently made aware of a civil complaint involving Matt from October 2021,” the Bills said in a statement to The Times on Thursday. “Due to the serious nature of the complaint, we conducted a thorough examination of this matter. As this is an ongoing civil case, we will have no other comment at this point.”
Araiza’s name surfaced in connection with the rape allegation in at least one report made by student-athletes within days of the party to San Diego State officials through an anonymous campus reporting system.
“I hope this isn’t true for Matt’s sake,” a student said in an Oct. 26 report that was reviewed by The Times along with other internal records in the case. “But if it’s true I hope he gets the repercussions he deserves and [the] girl gets justice.”
At the time, the San Diego State Aztec football team was enjoying one of its best seasons in years.
Records show that one athlete told campus officials that students who had heard about the incident were questioning why campus officials had not investigated and whether coaches were “trying to sweep it under the rug because our football team is doing so well.”
“Ninety-nine percent of the football players are aware of the five-person rape so the rest of the student-athletes are left wondering why nothing is being done,” the student said.
THE REST OF THE STORY ACCOUNTING DETAILS
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
Matt Araiza will not play for Bills tonight
Posted by Michael David Smith on August 26, 2022, 5:30 PM EDT
Bills punter Matt Araiza is being sidelined tonight, a day after it was publicly revealed that he was accused of rape last year.
Araiza will not play for the Bills tonight at Carolina, according to multiple reports. Araiza is at the stadium with the Bills, so the team may have made the decision not to let him play only very recently.
While playing for San Diego State last year, Araiza and two teammates were accused of gang raping a 17-year-old girl. The girl reported it to the police the next day, but Araiza was never arrested or charged, and the allegation was not reported publicly until yesterday, after the girl filed a civil lawsuit against Araiza.
Under NFL rules, Araiza can’t face league discipline for a personal-conduct violation that happened when he was still playing in college. But the Bills could cut him, and the fact that they’re sidelining him tonight suggests that they might do so.
The Bills have not explained when they learned of the accusation against Araiza, but reports have indicated that they were unaware of the allegation at the time they drafted him, but had been informed before they declared him the winner of their training camp competition and their starting punter for the season.
Posted by Michael David Smith on August 26, 2022, 5:30 PM EDT
Bills punter Matt Araiza is being sidelined tonight, a day after it was publicly revealed that he was accused of rape last year.
Araiza will not play for the Bills tonight at Carolina, according to multiple reports. Araiza is at the stadium with the Bills, so the team may have made the decision not to let him play only very recently.
While playing for San Diego State last year, Araiza and two teammates were accused of gang raping a 17-year-old girl. The girl reported it to the police the next day, but Araiza was never arrested or charged, and the allegation was not reported publicly until yesterday, after the girl filed a civil lawsuit against Araiza.
Under NFL rules, Araiza can’t face league discipline for a personal-conduct violation that happened when he was still playing in college. But the Bills could cut him, and the fact that they’re sidelining him tonight suggests that they might do so.
The Bills have not explained when they learned of the accusation against Araiza, but reports have indicated that they were unaware of the allegation at the time they drafted him, but had been informed before they declared him the winner of their training camp competition and their starting punter for the season.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
Remember this? Most will probably not know what the details were. But this how sexual misconduct is commonly handled with a celebrity athlete (in college and the NFL).
*****************************************************************
The NFL's #1 Draft Pick Is Still Facing Rape Allegations
There's a civil suit against Jameis Winston, but his new team insists they aren't worried because Winston is a "good guy."
by JILL FILIPOVIC
MAY 1, 2015
Last night, Jameis Winston, a former Florida State student with a checkered past and a civil suit for rape still pending, was the first draft pick in the NFL. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Winston, with their general manager Jason Licht telling ESPN, "If he wasn't a good guy, we wouldn't have used the first pick on him."
In December 2012, Florida State University student Erica Kinsman — who identified herself in a recent documentary about campus sexual assault called The Hunting Ground — went to the Tallahassee police saying she had been raped.
There was semen in her underwear and bruising on her body. Her alleged rapist was eventually identified as Winston — then a star player at the same school. And according to an investigation by The New York Times, Winston's local celebrity status meant the police and Florida State did almost nothing to investigate the rape claim.
According to the Times, the local police didn't interview Winston for two weeks after Kinsman reported the alleged crime. They didn't collect DNA from him. The detective in charge of the case didn't write up a report for two months.
There was reportedly a video of the alleged assault, but police dragged their feet, and by the time the case was in front of a prosecutor, that video and other evidence had disappeared. Winston was never arrested or charged.
*****************************************************************
The NFL's #1 Draft Pick Is Still Facing Rape Allegations
There's a civil suit against Jameis Winston, but his new team insists they aren't worried because Winston is a "good guy."
by JILL FILIPOVIC
MAY 1, 2015
Last night, Jameis Winston, a former Florida State student with a checkered past and a civil suit for rape still pending, was the first draft pick in the NFL. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Winston, with their general manager Jason Licht telling ESPN, "If he wasn't a good guy, we wouldn't have used the first pick on him."
In December 2012, Florida State University student Erica Kinsman — who identified herself in a recent documentary about campus sexual assault called The Hunting Ground — went to the Tallahassee police saying she had been raped.
There was semen in her underwear and bruising on her body. Her alleged rapist was eventually identified as Winston — then a star player at the same school. And according to an investigation by The New York Times, Winston's local celebrity status meant the police and Florida State did almost nothing to investigate the rape claim.
According to the Times, the local police didn't interview Winston for two weeks after Kinsman reported the alleged crime. They didn't collect DNA from him. The detective in charge of the case didn't write up a report for two months.
There was reportedly a video of the alleged assault, but police dragged their feet, and by the time the case was in front of a prosecutor, that video and other evidence had disappeared. Winston was never arrested or charged.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
I can't quite understand how the NFL has not powere to discipline malevents occurring in joint practices........players in joint practices are still in the NFL, aren't they?
Concerning Darnold:
“The incident will be addressed internally, and any discipline will remain in-house,” a Rams spokesperson said, via Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com.
The team did not say whether any disciplinary decisions will be made public, although a suspension of any length would become apparent with or without a formal announcement.
Concerning Darnold:
“The incident will be addressed internally, and any discipline will remain in-house,” a Rams spokesperson said, via Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com.
The team did not say whether any disciplinary decisions will be made public, although a suspension of any length would become apparent with or without a formal announcement.
Calling it now. Drew Lock is going to lead the Seahawks to the NFCWest Division Championship
TheRealJoker
Hall of Fame
If I were the Colts, I wouldn’t rush my 1st team all pro LB back from back surgery without time to practice. Especially week one playing a division rival that intends to play physical smash mouth football…
Rams super D-Tackle during inter-team scrimmage beats opposition silly with their own helmets - NP !
Rams HC puts the NFLs #1 pariah on his employers payroll - NP !
I dunno but, me thinks somebody knows somebody.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
Saints first round OT Trevor Penning suffered a turf toe. From the looks of it, it will require surgery. An MRI will tell the full story.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
49ers free safety Jimmie Ward reportedly suffered a hamstring in the Texans game. From what I gather, it is a Grade 3 hamstring tear. He won't be back for the season opener. I'd be surprised if he returns before week 7 if then.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
Sam Darnold has suffered an ankle injury. It appears by video to be a severe high ankle tear. The team reports that no fracture has been seen on plain x-ray. However, fracture, articular damage and extent of ligament damage will not be known until after a MRI is performed.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
The Bills coach is saying that they are having a difficult time trying to figure out how to handle Araiza. The Bills have refused to answer when they found out that he had been accused of rape. Asked whether they expected him to be on the 53-man roster, there was also a refusal to answer. Meanwhile because of the NFL supposedly being precluded from taking any action based on the Personal Conduct Policy, the NFL is evidently putting everything of the shoulders of the Bills. There always seems to be a cop out for the NFL, doesn't there.
TheRealJoker
Hall of Fame
Jay Gruden is the brother of Jon Gruden. Former Washington HC that Mcvay worked under as TE/OC. Good offensive coach and quality hire for Rams.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
Araiza's attorney:
A curious argument, as the age of consent in California is 18, and the victim was 17 at the time.
A curious argument, as the age of consent in California is 18, and the victim was 17 at the time.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
If the Bills by any chance choose to release Araiza, it wouldn't be surprising for Haslam to bring him in for a handsome guaranteed contract (with first year highlighted by a $1 million bonus with deferred salary) and hire Hardin to represent him. 
You are going to love Baker Mayfield before this season is over.
TheRealJoker
Hall of Fame
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
Interesting that the Bills were informed by Araiza's victim's attorney July 27 about the situation, but it is felt that the Bills may have known before that. The Bills seem to have done as thorough a job investigating the incident as the Browns did with Watson by not trying to talk to the victim.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
The Panthers say that after the MRI, Darnold will be undergoing additional tests. No other comments regarding the possibly more damage that just a run of the mill high ankle.
Woops ! Bad mistake on my part so thank you Sir for correcting me, and I apologize for my careless and stupid error.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
NFLPA, Matt Araiza’s agent have no comment about release from Bills
August 27, 2022, 9:12 PM EDT
The Bills spoke loudly on Saturday night, releasing rookie punter Matt Araiza. The NFL Players Association and Araiza have said nothing about that yet.
Neither the union nor Araiza’s agent had a comment on the team’s decision to part ways with Araiza, in response to an inquiry directed to both parties by PFT.
As the first pick in round six, Araiza received a $216,000 signing bonus. He’s retain that. His base salary of $705,000 was not guaranteed. He will not receive any of it.
Even though the Bills clearly are releasing Araiza for non-football reasons, it appears that there will be no effort by Araiza or the union to launch any type of legal challenge. As one source with knowledge of the various procedures explained it to PFT, it becomes very difficult to fight a team’s decision to cut a player when the player’s salary isn’t guaranteed.
Araiza, when officially released on Sunday, will pass through waivers. Surely, no team will claim him. He’ll become a free agent, and if/when he’s exonerated he potentially could get another shot in the NFL.
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OK Haslam, here's your chance to again be benevolent with a second chance by snagging a great player on waivers!
August 27, 2022, 9:12 PM EDT
The Bills spoke loudly on Saturday night, releasing rookie punter Matt Araiza. The NFL Players Association and Araiza have said nothing about that yet.
Neither the union nor Araiza’s agent had a comment on the team’s decision to part ways with Araiza, in response to an inquiry directed to both parties by PFT.
As the first pick in round six, Araiza received a $216,000 signing bonus. He’s retain that. His base salary of $705,000 was not guaranteed. He will not receive any of it.
Even though the Bills clearly are releasing Araiza for non-football reasons, it appears that there will be no effort by Araiza or the union to launch any type of legal challenge. As one source with knowledge of the various procedures explained it to PFT, it becomes very difficult to fight a team’s decision to cut a player when the player’s salary isn’t guaranteed.
Araiza, when officially released on Sunday, will pass through waivers. Surely, no team will claim him. He’ll become a free agent, and if/when he’s exonerated he potentially could get another shot in the NFL.
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OK Haslam, here's your chance to again be benevolent with a second chance by snagging a great player on waivers!
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
The NFLPA and the NFL have the time, effort and money to defend POS players who can bring them $$$$$$. But they always disappear when it comes to health and welfare of former players who no longer have any value to them.
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Wes Welker Slams NFL Over Issue With Disability Benefits
Former NFL wide receiver Wes Welker slammed the league on social media on Saturday after receiving an email regarding the status of a claim he filed for line-of-duty disability benefits.
Per the email from the NFL, the Disability Initial Claims Committee tabled his line-of-duty application and requested that Welker file additional records to substantiate that the surgeries he has received since retiring were a result of football injuries.
Welker, now an assistant coach with the Dolphins, was not happy with the response from the NFL.
“[NFL] I don’t have the time or patience for this,” Welker began.
“Been an employee of the NFL for 18 years and still going. This is bush league stuff!,” he continued.
The NFL disability plan is set up to protect the futures of retired players after their career has ended. While the plan should be to the players’ long-term benefit, there have been critics of the system in the past from former players regarding the plan’s effectiveness.
Welker’s criticism is the latest example of former players being unhappy with the league’s plan, for better or worse.
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Wes Welker Slams NFL Over Issue With Disability Benefits
- MIKE MCDANIEL
- 10 HOURS AGO
Former NFL wide receiver Wes Welker slammed the league on social media on Saturday after receiving an email regarding the status of a claim he filed for line-of-duty disability benefits.
Per the email from the NFL, the Disability Initial Claims Committee tabled his line-of-duty application and requested that Welker file additional records to substantiate that the surgeries he has received since retiring were a result of football injuries.
Welker, now an assistant coach with the Dolphins, was not happy with the response from the NFL.
“[NFL] I don’t have the time or patience for this,” Welker began.
“Been an employee of the NFL for 18 years and still going. This is bush league stuff!,” he continued.
The NFL disability plan is set up to protect the futures of retired players after their career has ended. While the plan should be to the players’ long-term benefit, there have been critics of the system in the past from former players regarding the plan’s effectiveness.
Welker’s criticism is the latest example of former players being unhappy with the league’s plan, for better or worse.
If the Vikings cut TE Matt Davidson, Caserio should pick him up. 6'7 has good hands and is a willing blocker.
Boris
All Pro
willing is cool
effective?
cant deny the size though
TheRealJoker
Hall of Fame
Bucs lost two more OL to injury in their last preseason game.
Possible player for player swap:
Jimmy Morrisey for Scotty Miller? Both likely to be cut. Texans get a slot and Bucs get an interior OL.
Possible player for player swap:
Jimmy Morrisey for Scotty Miller? Both likely to be cut. Texans get a slot and Bucs get an interior OL.
Mangler
Toro de España
Me? Shiiii… I’ve been liking Baker Mayfleld since his college days.
TheRealJoker
Hall of Fame
Backup punter versatility?! GM OB is already preparing the Randall Cobb contract for him.
He was holding his own the other night. I guess he was playing against 2nd teamers though.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
Panthers punter Zane Gonzalez suffered what is reported as a groin injury in the last preseason game and was carted off. Last year, he missed the last 4 games after a right quad injury suffered during warm-ups in mid December. Most classic groin tears are of the adductor muscles. But proximal quad injuries are still referred to as groin injuries by many. From where I saw the ice being applied, it appears that the proximal quadriceps were being treated. If so, he is done for the season, and if indeed this is another quad tear, his future as a punter has to be held in question. Tough break for the young man.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
He scored a pretty impressive receiving touchdown (18) for every 2.8 catches against Division II competition throughout his college career.
The guys definitely very athletic.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
Additional interesting info.
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Some NFL teams knew about Matt Araiza incident before the draft, without knowing all details
Posted by Michael David Smith on August 28, 2022, 5:12 AM EDT
Bills General Manager Brandon Beane said on Saturday that he had no idea Matt Araiza had been accused of rape when the Bills drafted Araiza. Beane then added that the league office didn’t know, and that he has reached out to people with other teams who have told him they knew nothing about the accusation, either.
But some NFL teams did know before the draft that Araiza was involved in an off-field incident.
Executives from two different teams told the Associated Press they knew of Araiza’s involvement in an off-field incident before the draft, but neither executive knew the extent of the allegations, that a 17-year-old girl had accused Araiza and two San Diego State teammates of raping her during the 2021 football season. The Associated Press did not name the two executives or the teams they work for.
One question that has not been answered is whether the GMs of the Ravens and Buccaneers, both of whom took punters before the Bills drafted Araiza, knew of the accusation before the draft. Araiza was widely considered the best punter in college football last year, and it was surprising when two punters were drafted ahead of him.
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I don't believe for a minute that the NFL and NFL teams did not know about Araiza long time ago..............before the Draft.
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Some NFL teams knew about Matt Araiza incident before the draft, without knowing all details
Posted by Michael David Smith on August 28, 2022, 5:12 AM EDT
Bills General Manager Brandon Beane said on Saturday that he had no idea Matt Araiza had been accused of rape when the Bills drafted Araiza. Beane then added that the league office didn’t know, and that he has reached out to people with other teams who have told him they knew nothing about the accusation, either.
But some NFL teams did know before the draft that Araiza was involved in an off-field incident.
Executives from two different teams told the Associated Press they knew of Araiza’s involvement in an off-field incident before the draft, but neither executive knew the extent of the allegations, that a 17-year-old girl had accused Araiza and two San Diego State teammates of raping her during the 2021 football season. The Associated Press did not name the two executives or the teams they work for.
One question that has not been answered is whether the GMs of the Ravens and Buccaneers, both of whom took punters before the Bills drafted Araiza, knew of the accusation before the draft. Araiza was widely considered the best punter in college football last year, and it was surprising when two punters were drafted ahead of him.
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I don't believe for a minute that the NFL and NFL teams did not know about Araiza long time ago..............before the Draft.
CloakNNNdagger
Hall of Fame
A couple of sources including Florio have reported that Araiza's agent has no comment. But somewhat curious, the reports never mention who Araiza's agent is. I would be a little interested to know who he is.