Jets Coach Suspended, Fined For Tripping Player
NEW YORK (CBS4) - The New York Jets strength and conditioning coach who tripped Dolphins cornerback Nolan Carroll on the sideline while covering a punt has received his punishment from the team.
Sal Alosi has been suspended without pay by the team for the remainder of the season, including the playoffs, and will pay a $25,000 fine.
The incident happened in the third quarter of Miami's 10-6 victory Sunday. The rookie fell to the turf while running down the sideline, and Alosi later admitted he interfered with Carroll.
Alosi said he "wasn't thinking" when he tripped Carroll who was covering a punt.
"I made a mistake that showed a total lapse in judgment," Alosi said in a statement released by the Jets. "My conduct was inexcusable and unsportsmanlike and does not reflect what this organization stands for."
CBS Sports cameras caught the tripping incident on tape. The still image here showed two things. First, it caught Alosi tripping. Second, it caught members of the Jets staff lined up shoulder-to-shoulder with their toes on the white out of bounds line.
The formation of Jets coaches/staff/players, appears to be coordinated to prevent a "gunner" from running out of bounds and coming back in bounds to make the tackle on a player. A "gunner" is a player who lines up on the outside of a punt formation and runs down the field to tackle a punt returner. Typically, gunners face two players lined up across from them and can frequently be pushed out of bounds while going down the field.
Carroll, who had an interception in the first quarter to set up a field goal, laid on the field for several minutes before walking off. He came back into the game in the fourth quarter. Carroll said he was not angry about the incident.
"We got a W. That's not my problem," Carroll said. "That's the Jets' problem. We just move on. I felt contact, but I've got to watch film. I can't comment on it right now."
"I spoke to coach (Tony) Sparano and Nolan Carroll to apologize before they took off," Alosi said. He added he apologized to Ryan, general manager Mike Tannenbaum and owner Woody Johnson.
"I accept responsibility for my actions as well as any punishment that follows," he said.
The NFL also reviewed the incident but will take no further action following the Jets' punishment. Alosi's suspension will begin immediately, and he will not have access to the team's facility, coaches, or players.
"The only thing I know … is that my guys were screaming up there at the time," Sparano said. "When Nolan was down on the ground and they showed the thing, somebody from that sideline stuck a foot out. I talked to the referee. I didn't see it at that particular time. I told him at that point that it was on tape and the people upstairs are telling me that's what they see."
Alosi was with the Jets from 2001-2005, then worked for the Falcons for one season. He returned to the Jets in 2007.
