Television cameras caught Jets’ strength and conditioning coach Sal Alosi purposely tripping Dolphins’ gunner Nolan Carroll along the sidelines during a punt in New York’s 10-6 loss on Sunday.
And depending on whom you ask, the cameras also caught how Alosi and several members of the Jets had intentionally lined up to interfere with Carroll before Alosi stuck his knee out.
One person who thought the act was staged is former Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas, who told a Miami radio station on Tuesday that there’s evidence to suggest the Alosi didn’t act alone (that there was, in fact, a second kneeman).
From ESPN.com:
“They had to be ordered to stand there because they’re foot to foot,” Thomas said Tuesday 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.”
Actually, it was a six-man line, starting with Alosi and defensive lineman Marcus Dixon (inactive). It’s believed the other four also were inactive players. They were in a tight formation, almost like soccer players preparing to defend a direct kick. Their toes were right up against the boundary, with Alosi positioned in the corner of the coaches’ box.
Coincidence? When Carroll approached at full speed, not one of them flinched, suggesting it was a show of force that appeared to be orchestrated. Alosi and Jets officials denied that, claiming they don’t coach that tactic — an unsavory technique that is semi-prevalent around the league.
A close examination of the TV replay shows that Dixon was leaning in with his left shoulder, perhaps preparing for contact as well.
“Something is fishy,” said an opposing personnel executive, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
The executive said the Jets have shown a penchant in recent weeks for using sideline personnel as a deterrent to gunners — players sprinting the sideline in an attempt to get to the returner quickly — adding that the Jets’ sideline is conspicuously clear when their team is doing the punting.
I’m sure the Jets aren’t the only ones to have ever employed this technique because after all, they had to have gotten it from somewhere. But how dirty can you get? And not only that, but how stupid?
What would have happened had Carroll blown out his knee and was unable to play again? Was it worth it to Alosi and his band of clowns to possibly end a player’s career just so they could cheat on a punt return? I get that the Jets can’t win on their own right now, but this is low – especially if the act was premeditated.
I wonder when it’ll come out that Rex Ryan or someone on the Jets’ coaching staff told Alosi and the rest of the inactive players to set up a wall. Alosi is obviously an idiot for thinking he could do something like that and not have one of the 600 cameras in the stadium catch him, but I doubt he acted alone. Someone on that coaching staff must have told him what to do.
For once, it would be nice if a member of the AFC East not tried to video tape their opponent’s practice or trip a player as he’s running down field to cover a punt.
