Does the NFL take rape culture seriously?

Former Bills punter Matt Araiza and two of his former San Diego State teammates, Zavier Leonard and Nowlin Ewaliko, have been accused of sexual assault. In light of the allegations, Araiza was recently cut from the Bills. They are accused of rape, assault and false imprisonment. On October 17, 2021, it’s been alleged that the three men gang raped a high school teenager for about 90 minutes at an off-campus party.

Araiza's attorney denied the claim. As for the NFL, they haven't responded to the charges because the alleged incident occurred before Araiza joined the league. Despite the NFL stating Araiza was not subject to the league's personal conduct policy, the Bills cut Araiza anyway. Brandon Beane, the Bills' general manager, said the incident is beyond football and Araiza needs to handle his personal affairs.

Apparently, Araiza is incapable of being a punter and handling personal matters at the same time. Since the 1970s, I have been an NFL fan. Over the last five decades, many NFL players have been charged with murder, soliciting prostitutes, drug trafficking, sexual assault, and many other crimes. Recently, DeShaun Watson, the Cleveland Browns starting quarterback, was suspended for 11 games and fined $5 million for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy. Upon Watson's return to action, the Browns will owe him over $200 million.

Despite being suspended, Watson still has a job. Watson and Araiza have both been accused of sexually assaulting women. Due to the alleged victim's age, Araiza's charges may be more severe than Watson's. Nevertheless, 25 women have claimed that two professional athletes sexually assaulted them. Also, don't write off Araiza just yet. Because he is an exceptional punter, he was dubbed the "Punt God." The Bills drafted him with the intent of keeping him for years to come. Clearly, he was cut from the team for public relations reasons.

You can be sure another team will sign him immediately if charges against him are dropped. Having said all this, I would like to mention a term called rape culture. It is essentially a misogynistic term. Marshall University's website (https://www.marshall.edu/wcenter/sexual-assault/rape-culture/) defines rape culture as:

An environment in which rape is prevalent and in which sexual violence against women is normalized and excused in the media and popular culture. Rape culture is perpetuated through the use of misogynistic language, the objectification of women’s bodies, and the glamorization of sexual violence, thereby creating a society that disregards women’s rights and safety.

Rape Culture affects every woman. The rape of one woman is a degradation, terror, and limitation to all women. Most women and girls limit their behavior because of the existence of rape. Most women and girls live in fear of rape. Men, in general, do not.

Many women live with this fear on a daily basis. To be clear, I am not saying that Watson and Araiza are innocent. Should either athlete ever find themselves in a courtroom facing their accusers and a prosecutor, it will be up to a court to decide. The idea that everyone is innocent until proven guilty does not apply to NFL players. Regardless of whether they set foot in a courtroom or not, they are automatically guilty. Criminal allegations are handled by the NFL in that way, fair or not.

Additionally, you need to consider the accusers. Have they been sexually assaulted or are they merely seeking a financial windfall? Since I wasn't there, I don't know. However, the public and the media are quick to pass judgment without knowing the full story. But that's how our society has evolved. False claims against athletes aren't uncommon either. The 2006 Duke University lacrosse team is a good example if you don't think so. It was alleged that members of the team raped a stripper at a party. Three players were indicted and faced prison sentences. In the end, the alleged victim had made up the entire story, and the prosecutor was disbarred for his reckless handling of the case.

My final point is how the league imposes punishments. It seems that not all punishments are the same. It's likely the punishment is based on the player's status. A superior player is more likely to get his wrist slapped and return to the field. A lesser-known player like a punter or backup quarterback will get kicked to the proverbial curb and then have to find gainful employment like any other person who can't throw a football or catch one with precision.

Although rape culture exists, I am not so sure that the NFL or the typical NFL fan give it much thought. Fans and the league claim to care, but do they? Even with the Deshaun Watson case, Cleveland fans are still buying his jersey, paying for overpriced tickets, and cheering for the Browns. Watson's fans will be singing his name as Cleveland's savior when he returns. But I can assure you that if a third-string quarterback or kicker were accused of assaulting 24 women, he would have been cut and would never play in the NFL again.

So what's my verdict on the NFL's credibility of how it perceives rape culture? In the end, it depends on the person who is being accused and the perceived value of the player in question.

Marc is a longtime resident of Clermont County and an avid reader. Contact him through his website at www.themarcabe.com or through Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Catchmykiller. Marc also has a podcast called Catch my Killer, where he interviews family members seeking justice for their murdered loved ones. You can listen at www.catchmykiller.com.