One of the most blatant exhibits of disrespect for an opponent came during yesterday’s New York Jets and Miami Dolphins game on Sunday and the incident involved a coach. Jumping on the opportunity to change the outcome of a play that was in progress, Jets assistant coach Sal Alosi stuck out his knee and foot and tripped Dolphins’ player Nolan Carroll as the player ran down the sidelines, covering a punt return.

Carroll tripped and tumbled to the ground and although he wasn’t hurt seriously, he could have been. The New Daily News reported that Nolan’s teammate, linebacker Channing Crowder had this to say about the low class move:

“I wish [Alosi] would have tripped me. I would have gotten up and broken the old man’s leg.”

If Rex Ryan, the charismatic, bombastic head coach of the Jets, doesn’t discipline his coach severe enough, the usual NFL investigation machine will be pressed into service, looking into yet another Jets matter. Earlier this season, they investigated Ryan’s and his player’s behavior involving Ines Saintz, an attractive reporter and more recently, completed the exhaustive Brett Favre-Jenn Sterger matter.

Alosi quickly issued an admission to what he referred to as a “mistake”. The apology sounded similar to the ones we hear from players all the time. Mistake in that context is code word for the “idiot” in every sense of the word. One has to wonder if these Jets players and staff truly feel they are above the law to even consider doing something as wrong and blatant as Alosi did.

“I made a mistake that showed a total lapse in judgment. My conduct was inexcusable and unsportsmanlike and does not reflect what this organization stands for,” said Alosi who is listed as the team’s strength and conditioning coach.

Calls for him to be fired are out in full force as they should be even though Carroll was not injured. At least a long suspension without pay would punish this guy who doesn’t make the big bucks like the players do. It’s Christmas and losing a few paychecks around this time of year would hurt. While he will be lightning rod in his the New York community with some jerks calling him a hero and others realizing he could have put the player in the hospital or jeopardized his career.

The best way to handle this matter is to do it swiftly. The video is available, the team is situated a short drive away from NFL’s corporate office and the guy has admitted what he did so what else is necessary? Wrap this thing up in a bow, tell the guy to take pack it in for the rest of this season including the playoffs and put it to rest.

Used with permission of the author.

Paula Duffy is a national sports columnist for Examiner.com and the Huffington Post and regularly comments on sports/legal matters for radio affiliates of ESPN and Fox Sports. She founded the sports information site, Incidental Contact, is the author of a line of audio books designed for sports novices and in her spare time practices law in Los Angeles.

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