NFL Fines New York Jets $100 Grand For Tripping Incident

The NFL has fined the New York Jets $100,000 for an assistant coach tripping a Miami Dolphins special teams player during a game on December 12.  Jets strength and conditioning coach, Sal Alosi, was caught on tape--and thousands of camera phones--sticking his knee out and knocking down the Dolphins Nolan Carroll as he ran down the sideline on kick coverage.

Alosi was the alleged ringleader in a planned strategy of building a wall of other Jets coaches and assistants to block the sideline.  He has already indefinitely suspended for the rest of the season and fined $25,000 by the Jets for the incident.

A statement from the NFL said the Jets violated league rules by forming the illegal sideline barrier and the tactic was deemed both a "competitive violation" and "dangerous."

The NFL fine could be in response to the Jets special teams coordinator Mike Westhoff's public criticism of a "team up north [the New England Patriots?] uses the same tactic."

The NFL wants to make it clear to players and coaches not to engage in "public criticism of other clubs."

The Jets have not disclosed how long they will suspend Alosi beyond the season but a spokesperson said the team will comply with the league's decision.