EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP/ CBS 2/ 1010 WINS) — The New York Jets trainer who tripped a Miami Dolphins player on the sideline during a game Sunday appeared to hold back tears as he apologized for his actions.

“I let everybody down yesterday with my actions,” Alosi said. “My actions were inexcusable and irresponsible.”

On Monday night Sal Alosi was suspended without pay for the rest of the season, including the playoffs, and fined an additional $25,000.

He will begin serving his suspension immediately and have no access to the team’s practice facility. General manager Mike Tannenbaum said Alosi will also not be allowed to interact with any players or coaches “as it pertains to his job function.”

“It’s on me,” a contrite Alosi said.

Credit: mocksession.com

The league reviewed the incident in which Alosi stuck his left knee out and tripped Dolphins cornerback Nolan Carroll, who was covering a punt in the third quarter of Miami’s 10-6 win.

“I wasn’t thinking,” Alosi said. “If I could go back and do it again, I sure as heck would take a step back. It was just a situation where I wasn’t thinking.”

Carroll, a rookie, fell to the turf and lay there for several minutes grabbing one of his legs before walking off. He returned in the fourth quarter. Carroll twice broke his right leg while playing: once ending his senior season in high school and again in his senior season at Maryland.

“I’m extremely thankful that my actions yesterday didn’t result in any significant injury to Nolan or any other players,” Alosi said.

He added that he apologized by phone to both Carroll and Dolphins coach Tony Sparano, and spoke to Jets owner Woody Johnson, coach Rex Ryan and general manager Mike Tannenbaum about the situation.

It’s the latest embarrassing incident for the team that starred on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” during the summer.

The Jets were investigated by the NFL in September for their treatment of a female television reporter. The league responded to the situation involving Ines Sainz of TV Azteca by developing a workplace conduct program, underwritten by Johnson, to educate players and staffs of all 32 teams.

A few weeks later, wide receiver Braylon Edwards was arrested for drunken driving.

Star cornerback Darrelle Revis was ticketed for speeding while driving to the team’s facility for a meeting before a practice in October.

At a news conference in Miami, Sparano said Alosi sounded humbled and sorry when they spoke Sunday night.

“I’m not going to get into it a whole lot here fellas, but to be honest with you, it’s out of my hands,” Sparano said. “It’s in a million other people’s hands right now, but not in mine. … I don’t like what happened because a player could’ve gotten hurt, seriously hurt, but that’s where it is.”

Dolphins linebacker Karlos Dansby took a swipe at Ryan after the game when he heard about the incident.

“He’s just taking after the head coach, man. It all trickles downhill,” Dansby said. “That’s how I look at it, it trickles downhill. The head coach, he opened a can of worms over there and now he’s got to fix it.”

Carroll, who had an interception in the first quarter to set up a field goal, said after the game that he was not angry about the incident.

“We got a ‘W.’ That’s not my problem,” Carroll said. “That’s the Jets’ problem. We just move on. I felt contact, but I’ve got to watch film. I can’t comment on it right now.”

Alosi was with the Jets from 2001-2005, then worked for the Falcons for one season before returned to New York in 2007 as the head trainer.

Alosi was a linebacker for Hofstra from 1996-2000, and even earned an award for sportsmanship and fair play both on and off the field during his college career.

“You’re asking me to give you a logical explanation to an illogical act,” he said. “I can’t do that. I can’t explain that.”

Throughout the tri-state area on Monday, football fans were left wondering what Alosi was thinking about.

“Oh that ain’t right. Come on now. You can’t do that. You can’t do that,” Astoria resident Maria Stone told CBS 2′s Scott Rapoport.

So what about it? What about fair play. What about sportsmanship and setting a good example? We know sometimes players go off the rails, but coaches?

“For a coach to do something like that tells me he’s a little over invested … to the point of being immature,” psychologist Dr. Jeffrey Gardere said.

You have to go back more than 30 years ago when legendary Ohio State coach Woody Hayes threw a haymaker at an opposing player to top something like this.

Over at Lodi High School in New Jersey, students, athletes and academics alike were taken aback when they saw the trip the day after.

“If he can’t follow the rules and regulations and moral code set by the organization he works for, he should have no business working there,” said Jacob Rosen, a junior at Lodi High School.

“It’s wrong because coaches are supposed to be setting examples for their players. And if they’re doing something like that everyone else that’s looking up to them are gonna think there’s no point to it. They’re supposed to be role models,” varsity soccer player Harsharan Kaur added.

Sports needs more stand up guys, not fall guys.

Statement from New York Jets

December 13, 2010 — The New York Jets today suspended without pay Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Sal Alosi for the remainder of the 2010 season, including any playoff games, and fined him an additional $25,000 for his conduct during Sunday’s game versus the Miami Dolphins. The announcement was made by Jets General Manager Mike Tannenbaum.
Alosi’s suspension begins immediately. During this period, he will have no access to the team’s practice facility nor any interaction with coaches or players as it pertains to his job function. He will be eligible to return to the facility on the day following the team’s final game of the 2010 season.

“After reviewing the facts and consulting with the league office, we determined that this was the most appropriate discipline,” said Jets General Manager Mike Tannenbaum. “I have spoken with Sal. He understands the severity of his actions and has apologized to all parties involved in the incident. 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. I have also reminded all members of the organization with sideline access that it is both a priority and their responsibility to maintain a safe environment.”

Alosi said: “I accept responsibility for my actions and respect the team’s decision.”

Statement from New York Jets Head Strength & Conditioning Coach Sal Alosi

“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. I spoke to Coach Sparano and Nolan Carroll to apologize before they took off. I have also apologized to Woody, Mike and Rex. I accept responsibility for my actions as well as any punishment that follows.”