Chiefs sign former Bills Punter Matt Araiza
 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A big development in KC: Chiefs are signing former Bills punter Matt Araiza, per source.</p>&mdash; Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1760757406479294963?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

See ya Tommy.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">New <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chiefs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chiefs</a> punter Matt Araiza: <a href="https://t.co/m6f6OFWNfd">pic.twitter.com/m6f6OFWNfd</a></p>&mdash; Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) <a href="https://twitter.com/MySportsUpdate/status/1760758698417209606?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Tommy Townsend is a free agent this offseason.

Punt god the (alleged) rapist


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Wow this could be huge.

Good knowing you Tommy you had a good run.

He is no longer even alleged, it was a made up story.

I knew tommy townsend was as good as gone when he announced that he signed up with drew rosenhaus

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Welcome to the family ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/tommy_townsend?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tommy_townsend</a>⁩ <a href="https://t.co/dAh7fDRrJH">pic.twitter.com/dAh7fDRrJH</a></p>&mdash; Drew Rosenhaus (@DrewJRosenhaus) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrewJRosenhaus/status/1686568790098608128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 2, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Another kick in the teeth to Bills Mafia...

He can get back at Buffalo next year for releasing him by punting Josh Allen right in the dick

Creeped Taylor out when he hugged her.. See ya..

Well deserved second chance after being cleared of his accusations. And might turn out an upgrade.

That's a heck of a move. I mean he has ZERO service time so we're looking at ERFA at worst for 3 years, RFA for a 4th.

And the dude has a MASSIVE leg.

Look - everyone hates us so that just is what it is. Might as well lean into it at this point. If you can get a dude like Araiza and save $4 million in cap space by not re-signing Townsend, it's just a complete no-brainer.

****ing kickers are a dime a dozen..

Solid move imo, and he deserved another chance after being railroaded, from what I've read. Hopefully he can hold kicks too?

Great ****ing move.

As much as I like Townsend, I am totally down with this. Go get your bag Tommy, from someone else--we need your money elsewhere on the Chiefs.

Aww, the general consensus seems to be glad he's actually getting a chance after being ****ed over. I wanted to enjoy full Heel Chiefs slander. It's the best.

Hoo boy

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">New <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chiefs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chiefs</a> punter Matt Araiza: <a href="https://t.co/m6f6OFWNfd">pic.twitter.com/m6f6OFWNfd</a></p>&mdash; Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) <a href="https://twitter.com/MySportsUpdate/status/1760758698417209606?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Townsend was nails in the Super Bowl. But too shaky in the playoffs overall and either he can't punt out of bounds to avoid touchbacks or Toub just prefers to gamble that maybe someone can get there and down it. I'm assuming it's not the latter.

Possible big W assuming Araiza hasn't been fried mentally by everything.

lmao they're gonna hate us so much when we get him a ring

Good for us and him. This Me Too crap and guilty to proven innocent ideology is pure bull excrement. Trevor Bauer needs to be signed now.

Sorry, don't get it.

I don't have any real opinion on the controversy, but he will be controversial fair or not. If this is just to give Townsend free agent competition there are a million who can do it without controversy. So why not just do that?

In Townsend we have a real good one and I really don't want to **** with the guy who holds for a kicker on an absolute tear right now. I hope araiza finds a good gig somewhere. He deserves it. I just don't think this is worth it

Bills fans reaction:

https://media0.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2...L0wle/200.webp

This is a great move, and I'll miss TT.

LMAO

:LOL: Never change Zilla, never change.

Townsend was not very good this past season. Played well in the playoffs but during the season he was very inconsistent.

He enjoyed it too much…

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GGHLw59X...jpg&name=large

I've been leaning into it since the 2019 season.

If Townsend does end up being way too expensive then ok... Great move

Well, good news...

How is his holding ability? Is he solid?

:LOL:

That seals it. Gotta sign Jones and Sneed now and draft all defense. We'll win every game 27-0 by dominating field position with Butker hitting nine 60 yard field goals.

Change about what? It's a lot more about Townsend than araiza. I don't really want to **** with something that isn't broken. I have no issues whatsoever with araiza getting a work somewhere. He deserves it.

It's some extra money for sneed or jones. $4 mil there could make the difference

That reerun Colquitt probably thinks he sucks.

He was cleared of the accusations… what is controversial?

Townsend hasn't been consistent. For every great punt...he's had a shit one.

Punter highlights?

Oh yes, punter highlights...

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OafZBFXyg-M?si=gHXi871KQzEUS81w" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Gonna need a little work on placement and probably trajectory (lot of flat missiles in there) but the leg is just unreal. And he's gonna have that funky lefty spin to boot.

He could be a genuine weapon.

Makes sense to me. Townsend wasn't really any good this year.

Some folks claimed that Jackson, Brittney, Pat Sr., TayTay, etc. would all be "distractions." People are dumb.

LMAO Once he said Spagnuolo didn't REALLY mean it when he's said repeatedly over and over again he still wants to be a HC I just kind of gave up on engaging with him. You can literally find hard proof of something and if it goes against the narrative he's crafted in his head he'll do anything to disregard or ignore it. Completely pointless to interact with him.

We should be forever grateful for Tommy's hold on the bad snap on Butker's record 57-yard FG in SB58.

Right?

And the guy's probably going to want $4-5 million to stay.

I've been saying we needed to let Townsend go for months. I have no interest in re-signing the guy. And this is a killer replacement who can probably be an upgrade with a little work with Toub. And he's going to be cheap for the foreseeable future.

His agent is looking for the best punter ever contract. They ain’t getting that here.

Townsend + only $28M for Jones

OR

Araiza + $32M for Jones

He's cheap and he's good

And even if Townsend was Ray Guy-good (which he is not)… no punter is worth that amount.

Shame to see Tommy go but if this guy can catch and hold for Butker (and I guess there's no absolute guarantee) then it's a no-brainer. Absolute howitzer for a leg.

Bills fans are pissed, so he must be good.

Yeah, the dumb ass will argue about pretty much anything and will never ever change his mind.

He's quite honestly the most frustrating poster to go back and forth with on CP.

This move may of just got us to re sign Jones!! 28 mil was last year but after this years performance his price has gone up. 32 mil seems reasonable for what Jones brings. What a move Veach!!

The two actual questions about him are his ability to hold on FGs because he was the punter and FG kicker at SDSU. I don't know if he has much experience holding. And does he end up taking kickoff duties from Butker? Worst case we have two guys with monster legs who can kickoff.

https://www.teamrankings.com/nfl/pla...nty-percentage

Townsend was bottom tier on percentage inside the 20 this year. Also only about league average in yards per punt.

They can do better.

Tommy’s agent is Tyreek’s agent. He’s moving to another team.

Donger says "whatup"

He was maaaaaybe a top 10 punter this year? I mean Cole has proven to be a set and forget badass - the only real consistent elite punter the league's had in a bit. Dickson as well. The rest are almost always up and down.

Y'all remember Jack Fox? We had him in several years back to compete with Colquitt (or maybe even Townsend). Fox has been better than Townsend the last couple years.

And frankly the difference between the 5th best punter and the 25th best punter means pretty much dick.

This just makes so much sense. Because in the end even if Araiza is screwed up by the year off, there's gonna be some other vet minimum schlub that can go out there and be near enough to average to not make a difference.

And near enough to average was all Townsend was this year.

Let him go chase his record deal - I'm extremely happy it won't be here. That's essentially going to cover the cost of Tranquill returning and there's just nothing but good things to say about that.

I assume Townsend wants a big contract. We don't really have excess money to spare on our punter. Something that looks really good is right there for us.

No bitterness toward Townsend. No hard feelings. I like the guy and I appreciate some of the things he's done for us like the great job on the hold in the Super Bowl for Butker's long FG. I hope he does well in his quest for a big contract, but we desperately need that money to extend other players that play a much more critical role.

Veach literally stole Butker and now got this guy.

Wow. I can’t believe I just watched punter highlights. This is such a great move.

Has anyone looked to see if there is a melt down about this on Two Bills Drive yet?

Of course there is.

https://www.twobillsdrive.com/commun...s-with-chiefs/

Shouldn't change what we pay Jones - offer him what you think he's worth. If he takes it, fantastic. If not, move along.

But it frees up enough space for the kind of moves that paid huge dividends on the fringes of the roster for us the last several seasons. Again, to my eyes its actually:

Townsend

or

Araiza + Tranquill

That's an easy choice.

Honestly may have upgraded. Tommy was good but I never felt he did a great job of pinning guys. Araiza got the nickname punt god for a reason. Let's see what he's got.

"It's like they're rubbing our noses in it.

I seriously hate them more than NE."

https://www.twobillsdrive.com/commun...ge/3/#comments

I didn't realize he was a pretty decent placekicker in college as well. Not that he will replace Butker, but if we Butker gets hurt in game, he's much better than Reid. Tommy is good, but this guy could be great. We get a couple of WR's, we aren't going to punt much anyway though...

Exxxactly.

Or for another example, might be the difference in brining back Donovan Smith this year.

Araiza had an 82 yard punt in his first preseason game

"The Chiefs are our daddy. I'm so depressed."

LMAO

Thats the right move you make. Replace similar with younger and cheaper. Great move Bart.

And Zillas dumbass not liking the move makes it even better

The punting world has changed dramatically over the past 20 years. For decades a 45 yard gross average would make you the best in the league. In 2023 we had six punters who grossed more than 50 (not counting a 7th who had just three punts). 29 punters (with 20+ attempts) grossed 45 or better.

I wonder what's changed so much. I don't think it can be just raw strength. There must be some technique change that's producing more yards.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here’s some info on why the case against Araiza was dismissed. <a href="https://t.co/qYNTOva6Tl">https://t.co/qYNTOva6Tl</a> <a href="https://t.co/6UfzhF45LM">https://t.co/6UfzhF45LM</a> <a href="https://t.co/xaY1RMyxus">pic.twitter.com/xaY1RMyxus</a></p>&mdash; Brandon Kiley (@BKSportsTalk) <a href="https://twitter.com/BKSportsTalk/status/1760761774381445329?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

One more question: Does he have a laser rocket arm to make pinpoint passes on fake punts the way Tommy did?

Townsend’s last punt as a Chief will be that fateful muffed punt by the 49ers play.

I remember reading about this guy getting cleared and thinking man, that ****ing sucks he's never going to get a career he earned.

Good on Andy and Veach.

Butker is entering a contract year next year and he's 100% getting paid big money as he rightfully deserves.

This is a perfect way to afford that cost bc this kid can make a punt from his own end zone to the opponents 20 yard line.

He's gonna be awesome for field position

Yeah, I saw some dipshit on Twitter go with "Ha! Just a touchback..."

Yeah - 62 yard nets are just the goddamn worst, aren't they?

That said, I think TBs start at the 25 on punts next year now don't they? He will need to improve in that area. I suspect he can. With that kind of leg strength, just put it higher and let your guys run under it.

Interesting. I guess if Townsend wanted big money he can look elsewhere. This seems like a great move.