Jets fine, suspend assistant for tripping Dolphins player

Associated Press

FLORHAM PARK, N.J.

The New York Jets assistant coach who tripped a Miami Dolphins player during a game has been suspended by the team without pay for the rest of the season, including the playoffs, and fined an additional $25,000.

Sal Alosi, the Jets’ strength and conditioning coach, will begin serving his suspension immediately and have no access to the team’s practice facility.

General manager Mike Tannenbaum said Monday night that Alosi will also not be allowed to interact with any players or coaches “as it pertains to his job function.”

Tannenbaum said the team spoke with the NFL about the incident throughout the day, and the league will issue no further discipline.

“Hopefully we’re going to learn from what happened yesterday and take full responsibility for it,” Tannenbaum said. “We’re really disappointed with Sal, with what happened, and we’re going to hold him accountable for his actions.”

Alosi said in a statement that he respected the team’s decision.

Both the league and the team spent the day reviewing the incident in which Alosi stuck his left knee out on the sideline and tripped Dolphins cornerback Nolan Carroll, who was covering a punt in the third quarter of Miami’s 10-6 win Sunday.

“I let everybody down yesterday with my actions,” said Alosi, fighting back tears during a news conference earlier Monday. “My actions were inexcusable and irresponsible.”

Carroll, a rookie, fell to the turf and lay there for several minutes before walking off.

“That’s a thing that has no business in this league,” coach Rex Ryan said, “or anywhere else.”

Alosi will be replaced for the rest of the season by his assistant, Brian Dermody. Alosi said he apologized by phone to both Carroll and Dolphins coach Tony Sparano.