The Eagles should consider bringing in the 'Punt God'
After two unspectacular seasons, the Philadelphia Eagles have released punter Arryn Siposs. No one thought he’d be back, but now fans are discussing something once considered unthinkable: bringing in the "Punt God."
Matt Araiza, also known as the "Punt God," averaged 51.1 yards per punt with a long of 86 yards in three years with San Diego State. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills but was released after he and two Aztec teammates were accused in a lawsuit of gang-raping a 17-year-old girl.
However, criminal charges were never filed against Araiza and according to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, prosecutors determined he was not present when the alleged rape occurred.
Araiza has since filed a defamation lawsuit against his accuser, alleging she “knowingly made false statements with a reckless disregard for the truth” when she spoke to San Diego police and to local and national media outlets according to the San Diego-Union Tribune.
According to USA Today’s Brent Schrotenboer and Josh Peter, the alleged victim offered to drop all charges for $50,000 but Araiza refused. "Settling is admitting guilt," he said. "That’s not the truth. That’s not what happened."
Prior to his off-field issues, Araiza had a strong camp with Buffalo. The Jets brought him in for a workout in May and his leg is reportedly as strong as ever. So with an obvious need at the position, some Eagles fans believe he’s the obvious choice to be the Eagles' next punter.
Not so fast. While Araiza has been cleared of any criminal wrongdoing, civil charges from his accuser are still pending with a trial date set for October. The Eagles have also been ardent supporters of women's causes over the years.
The team runs a clinic and annual football festival for their female fans and last week they donated 30,000 sports bras to local student-athletes. If something does come out in a civil trial, it could undermine all the good work the Eagles have done.
Philadelphia is sure to explore all options before settling on a new punter, and it’s a safe bet they’ve already had this discussion. It’s a tough call. If the team is 100% sure of his innocence, Araiza is their best option. But if there’s any doubt, the Eagles should stay away.
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