Massapequa native Sal Alosi has become the most famous strength and conditioning coach in America, but for all the wrong reasons.
Alosi, who is in his fourth season with the New York Jets, is at the center of a storm of controversy after TV replays showed him tripping a Miami Dolphins player along the sideline on Sunday at the Meadowlands.
See his Monday press conference here.
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Dolphins special-teamer Nolan Carroll ran down the Jets sideline on punt coverage when Alosi stuck his knee out and tripped Carroll. The player was down for about a minute after the play. He eventually walked off the field with members of the Dolphins training staff. The Jets lost, 10-6.
On Monday night, the Jets suspended Alosi without pay and fined him $25,000.
" 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," team General Manager Mike Tannenbaum said.
Alosi's suspension would continue through any run the Jets make in the post season.
The disgraced coach released a statement before learning of the fine and suspension saying, "I accept responsibility for my actions and respect the team's decision."
Tannenbaum said he doesn't believe the NFL will hand down further punishment.
When asked if he considered firing Alosi, the GM said, "I don't want to deal with hypothetical [questions], except to say that we looked at everything and we felt that like this was the appropriate action to take."
The sideline incident caused a fury of criticism to be aimed at Alsoi from the moment the play happened.
"This is just uncalled for in the NFL," said CBS announcer Dan Fouts as the network showed a video of Alosi sticking out his knee to trip Carroll. "I'm not sure who that is, but they should be ashamed of themselves."
After the game Alosi was identified as the culprit and he released a statement through the team apologizing for what happened.
"I made a mistake that showed a total lapse in judgment," Alosi said. "My conduct was inexcusable and unsportsmanlike and does not reflect what this organization stands for. I spoke to [Dolphins coach Tony] Sparano and Nolan Carroll to apologize before they took off. "
On Monday afternoon, Alosi held a press conference where he reiterated the apology, saying "I let everybody down with my actions."
"I'm extremely thankful that my actions yesterday did not lead to any significant injury to Nolan or any other player."
Alosi appeared shaken during the meeting with the press, telling them, "I wasn't thinking. If I could go back and do it again, I'd sure as heck would take a step back."
Alosi, who played football at and Hofstra before becoming a strength coach, said he also apologized to Jets owner Woody Johnson, coach Rex Ryan and Tannenbaum.
"I'm not angry," Carroll told The Miami Herald, saying he was happy the team got a win. "It's the Jets' problem. We just move on."
Carroll has suffered two broken legs playing football; once in high school and once at the University of Maryland. He did not appear to be seriously hurt by the incident.
Alosi was hired by the Jets in 2003 to be an assistant strength and conditioning coach. He left the team in 2006 to join the Atlanta Falcons staff but returned in 2007 to take his current job.
