Everyone watching the Jets-Miami game saw a truly despicable moment showcasing extremely poor sportsmanship. With three minutes to go in the third quarter Miami cornerback Nolan Carroll was forced out of bounds during a punt. As he moved inbounds he ran near Jets strength coach Sal Alosi where a “total lapse in judgement” occurred. Sal Alosi visibly stuck his right knee out to impede Carroll. Carroll collided with the knee just enough to send him into a forward roll, landing in front of Rex Ryan and took a moment getting to his feet. The trip was caught on video and discussed at length during the game, after the game, and the next day when Sal Alosi held a press conference to apologize.

Sal Alosi stated the following, “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” (www.nydailynews.com).

Sal Alosi’s is correct in saying his conduct was “inexcusable” but he did not have a “total lapse in judgement.” Sal Alosi is a thirty-three year old man in charge of molding the bodies of professional football players into well-oiled machines capable of maintaining their strength through a grinding season. He clearly made good judgements to get so far in the realm of professional football. Yet Alosi purposefully trips an opposing player from the sidelines and he says it was a “total lapse in judgement.” I am sorry but he does not get to say that. I will give Sal Alosi credit for apologizing but he does not get to say it was a “total lapse in judgement.”

At one point Sal Alosi saw Nolan Carroll running towards him. He made a judgement to almost imperceptibly shove his knee forward and trip Nolan Carroll. It was most certainly bad judgement that resulted in his actions so say what it actually is Sal. You decided to trip Nolan Carroll and while you apologized you still did not man up and take full responsibility.

I must say you are lucky that you are in the world of professional football because your job may remain intact but if this occurred at any local high school in the US you would be out of a job so quickly you would not even see the pink slip. Until you voluntarily suspend yourself from the remainder of the season I will not call for your firing, but I will forever refer to you as Sal Alosi. You no longer get to call yourself a coach.

Cheers,
Gordon