MEAWW.COM / NEWS / SPORTS

'Kenny Powers of NFL': Matt Araiza's agent denies Mexican football team signed him after 'welcome' tweet

Matt Araiza's agent said he 'never signed with the team and remains a free agent, hoping for an opportunity in the NFL'

BAJA, CALIFORNIA, MEXICO: Matt Araiza, a former punter for the San Diego State Aztecs and Buffalo Bills who was released before ever making an appearance for the AFC East squad, seemed to have signed with a Mexican league team. However, this claim was later denied by Araiza's agent on Monday, February 20. 

Araiza's agent Joe Linta, however, denied that he had been signed by the Mexican league team, Galgos de Tijuana. Linta stated that the player "never signed with the team and remains a free agent, hoping for an opportunity in the NFL," according to a tweet by Adam Schefter. This comes after Liga de Futbol Americano Professional (commonly known as LFA) team Galgos de Tijuana declared on Friday, February 17 that they had signed their newest punter. The Mexican league team wrote, "Welcome Matt Araiza! The kicker and punter trained at San Diego State University arrives at Galgos for the 2023 season."

RELATED ARTICLES

'Frustrating': Outrage after no charges filed against ex-Bills punter Matt Araiza in 2021 gang rape of teen

Matt Araiza's accuser says her piercings were RIPPED OUT during gang rape, shares grisly pics of 'sex attack'

What is Galgos de Tijuana?

The Galgos de Tijuana, also known as Tijuana Greyhounds, are an American football team from Tijuana, Mexico. The name of this team is derived from a hunting dog breed that was originally raised solely by Spanish nobility.

The Galgos play their home games at Estadio Caliente and participate primarily in Liga de Futbol Americano Profesional, Mexico's top American football league. They are now scheduled to face Mexicas on March 5 in Mexico City to kick off the LFA.

'Is he the Kenny Powers of the NFL?'

Following the agent's statement via Schefter, several people shared their remarks on Twitter. One person wrote, "If he was a player other than a punter/kicker, he would get signed." Another person who had a signing-related inquiry wrote, "I thought when you get drafted your automatically signed?"

A third person noted the likeness to Kenny Powers and wrote, "Holy s**t man, is he the Kenny Powers of the NFL?" One person who was baffled by the agent's denial wrote, "He wasn't just 'reported' to have signed, the team announced he signed and the coach of the team said in an interview that Araiza was practicing with them." Another person wrote, "Tell me its the offseason without telling me its the offseason."

'He was cleared should be in the NFL'

MEAWW previously reported that Araiza was not charged with a crime despite being suspected of taking part in a gang rape of a minor in 2021. Many people even highlighted these allegations on Schefter's tweet, with one person saying, "Why are we supposed to care what a disgraced free agent punter is doing with his life."

Another person wrote, "Was he not found innocent??? He's arguably one of the best punters the NFL has ever seen so if I was a team I’d pick him up asap I don’t care about “allegations” the man was proven innocent." A third person wrote, "He was cleared should be in the NFL."

"Another example of a guys life ruined by false claims that resulted in no charges," this other individual wrote. "Charges dropped!! Everyone here judging someone that an actual judge didn't even judge lol," another person wrote.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.