Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott keeps MUM on the Matt Araiza lawsuit but keeps Araiza out of the preseason finale
Follow Us
Buffalo Bills HC Sean McDermott on Matt Araiza allegation
The NFL World was shaken when a lawsuit was filed in San Diego County Superior Court which alleges that Buffalo Bills’ rookie punter Matt Araiza was involved in gang-rape of a minor last year while attending San Diego State University. The Bills who were scheduled to face the Carolina Panthers in their final preseason game decided not to field Araiza which was the only available option for them given the circumstances.
The situation is unfolding Buffalo Bills Head Coach Sean McDermott who is likely to be stressed due to the current situation, was asked numerous questions about Araiza and the team’s position on the issue, how the news first came to his attention and whether Araiza would remain an integral part of the team. Bills’ responses to the allegations have come also under scrutiny and McDermott was asked if his team’s response was sufficient. McDermott as his usual behavior did not go into the internal operations of the company.
“Haven’t slept a lot, to be honest with you” said a visibly drained Sean McDermott
After the Panthers game, McDermott acknowledged the gravity of the situation and addressed the situation right away at the post-game conference per USA Today – “Understand there was a game just played, but I want to talk about something that’s more important which is what we have going on with one of the members of our team right now, Matt Araiza. It is a situation that is extremely serious, just hard to go through and it’s not a situation that I or we take lightly whatsoever. I understand the sensitivity of the situation.”
Still, he was bombarded with questions regarding the situation but he had a standard answer to all the questions-“Respect your question, but I’m not going to get into the details.”
Although that was not all he spoke when asked about how the female Bills fans specifically must be feeling he said- “Again, it’s not a situation we take lightly. I’m hurt, I understand they’re hurt. And it’s emotional……….Haven’t slept a lot to be honest with you.”
He also expressed many times that the team had work to do in trying to find out the truth of the matter and get a better understanding of the situation-“That’s the goal is to find the truth and do the right thing. And that’s what I keep coming back to in my mind and my heart is to find out the truth to the best of my ability and do the right thing.”
It is a developing situation as per the latest reports Araiza had not been charged but keeping in mind the seriousness of the allegations McDermott’s silence is probably for the best.
Do follow us on: Google News | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Stay Updated!
Shashank Aryan
(131 Articles Published)