National Football League

Zach Thomas: Jets form human wall

Published Dec. 14, 2010 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Former Miami Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas Tuesday accused the New York Jets of intentionally forming a human wall along the sideline before strength and conditioning coach Sal Alosi tripped Dolphins rookie cornerback Nolan Carroll.

"They had to be ordered to stand there because they're foot to foot," Thomas said on Miami radio station WQAM. "There's four of them, side to side -- five of them, I mean -- on the edge of the coach's zone. They're only out there to restrict the space of the gunner.

"But there's more to it because, I'm telling you, the only thing [Alosi] did wrong was intentionally put that knee out there. If he just stood there, there would never have been a problem, even if the guy got tripped. But there's more to this. He was ordered to stand there. No one is foot to foot on the sideline in the coach's box."

Thomas speculated in a FOXSports Radio interview that Alosi was following orders to be a part of that human wall.

The Jets suspended Alosi for the remainder of the season without pay and issued a $25,000 fine.

Thomas believed the Jets' handling of the incident proved they ordered the wall during their 10-6 loss to the Dolphins.

"That's the reason the guy didn't get fired," Thomas said. “There was somebody that ordered that for the sideline."

Jets special teams coach Mike Westhoff, in a statement released by the Jets, said, “No. 1, I did not instruct anyone [to form a wall]. No. 2, I was not aware. With all of the people on the sidelines, it would be inconsequential and I would not be involved in any way, shape or form."

Head coach Rex Ryan on Monday denied that the Jets lined up personnel on purpose along the sideline.