The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs have signed free-agent punter Matt Araiza, as introduced by his company, JL Sports activities, which additionally included a press release.
“I’m proud and honored to signal a contract with the Chiefs,” wrote Araiza through the post-thread. “I’m thrilled to have the ability to proceed my NFL profession. I need to thank my household, who’ve been my rock and my many mates who’ve been unwavering of their help. I’m excited to start the subsequent section of my profession with the Tremendous Bowl Champs!”
Araiza’s identify ought to sound acquainted because of the off-the-field state of affairs that has transpired over the previous 12 months and a half.
The 23-year-old was initially taken within the sixth spherical of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Payments, solely to be launched by Buffalo in late August on account of his connection to a rape allegation and civil lawsuit stemming from an alleged incident that occurred throughout his school soccer days at San Diego State College. The civil lawsuit was finally withdrawn in mid-December.
The Related Press later outlined why the civil go well with towards Araiza was withdrawn.
After a monthlong police investigation, the San Diego County District Lawyer’s Workplace introduced in December that it will not file prison prices. A number of media shops obtained an audio recording of a gathering between prosecutors and the girl by which deputy District Lawyer Trisha Amador mentioned she concluded, based mostly on a witness assertion, that Araiza “wasn’t even on the social gathering anymore” when the alleged raping might have occurred and wasn’t seen in movies that had been recovered.
On the time, Araiza remained optimistic that he could be afforded one other alternative. Nicknamed the “Punt God,” he set an NCAA single-season report by averaging 51.2 yards per try through the 2021 season. He was a winner of the Ray Man Award (nation’s prime punter) and was a first-team All-American.
The Chiefs’ punter of the previous 4 years, Tommy Townsend, is about to develop into an unrestricted free agent in the beginning of the brand new 12 months. A primary-team All-Professional in 2022, Townsend notably employed Drew Rosenhaus final offseason. He’s a two-time Tremendous Bowl champion (2022, 2023).
All of the indicators level to the tip of Townsend’s tenure with the Chiefs — and the start of Araiza’s.
