National Football League

Jets coach suspended for trip

Published Dec. 13, 2010 12:00 a.m. ET

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New York Jets strength and conditioning coach Sal Alosi has been suspended for the remainder of the regular season and the postseason without pay, FOXSports.com has learned. He also will be fined $25,000.

Alosi is the Jets assistant who admitted Sunday that he stuck his left knee out and tripped Dolphins rookie cornerback Nolan Carroll, who was covering a punt in the third quarter of Miami’s 10-6 victory.

Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum announced the punishment in a statement.

According to the Jets, Alosi’s suspension begins immediately. During this period, he will have no access to the team’s practice facility nor any interaction with coaches or players as it pertains to his job function. He will be eligible to return to the facility on the day following the team’s final game of the 2010 season.

“After reviewing the facts and consulting with the league office, we determined that this was the most appropriate discipline,” Tannenbaum said. “I have spoken with Sal. He understands the severity of his actions and has apologized to all parties involved in the incident. There is no place in the game for this type of behavior and his conduct falls disappointingly short of our expectations for anyone associated with the New York Jets. I have also reminded all members of the organization with sideline access that it is both a priority and their responsibility to maintain a safe environment.”

In the statement, Alosi said: “I accept responsibility for my actions and respect the team’s decision.”

The NFL has been reviewing the incident. Earlier on Monday, Alosi appeared at a news conference at the Jets’ practice facility and said he had not yet received any discipline from the team or the NFL, nor had he personally spoken to the league. At that time, Alosi said he had no plans to resign.

He did say, however, that he would accept any discipline the Jets or the NFL chose to administer.

“I let everybody down yesterday with my actions,” Alosi said during the news conference. “My actions were inexcusable and irresponsible. It’s on me.

“I wasn’t thinking. If I could go back and do it again, I sure as heck would take a step back. It was just a situation where I wasn’t thinking.”

Carroll fell to the turf and lay there for several minutes grabbing one of his legs before walking off.

''That's a thing that has no business in this league,'' coach Rex Ryan said, ''or anyplace else.''
Carroll, who returned in the fourth quarter, twice broke his right leg while playing: once ending his senior season in high school and again in his senior season at Maryland.

''I'm extremely thankful that my actions yesterday didn't result in any significant injury to Nolan or any other players,'' Alosi said.

He added that he apologized by phone to both Carroll and Dolphins coach Tony Sparano, and spoke to Ryan, Jets owner Woody Johnson and Tannenbaum about the situation.

At a news conference in Miami, Sparano said Alosi sounded humbled and sorry when they spoke Sunday night.

''I'm not going to get into it a whole lot here fellas, but to be honest with you, it's out of my hands,'' Sparano said. ''It's in a million other people's hands right now, but not in mine. ... I don't like what happened because a player could've gotten hurt, seriously hurt, but that's where it is.''

Dolphins linebacker Karlos Dansby took a swipe at Ryan after the game when he heard about the incident.

''He's just taking after the head coach, man. It all trickles downhill,'' Dansby said. ''That's how I look at it, it trickles downhill. The head coach, he opened a can of worms over there and now he's got to fix it.''

Carroll, who had an interception in the first quarter to set up a field goal, said after the game that 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.''

Alosi was with the Jets from 2001-2005, then worked for the Falcons for one season before returned to New York in 2007 as the head strength and conditioning coach.

Alosi was a linebacker for Hofstra from 1996-2000, and even earned an award for sportsmanship and fair play both on and off the field during his college career.

''You're asking me to give you a logical explanation to an illogical act,'' he said. ''I can't do that. I can't explain that.''

The Associated Press contributed to this report