Written by Chris Hutchison

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If you have followed this story at all, Jet's Strength Coach Sam Alosi apparently ordered 5 inactive players to stand with him as a "wall" along the sidelines during a Miami punt in the 10-6 Dolphins win in New York (New Jersey) on Sunday.  The purpose was obviously to "get in the way" of any punt coverage guys that might run down their sidelines, and culminated with Alosi sticking out a knee and tripping Miami gunner Nolan Carroll as he ran by.

The Jets suspended Alosi for the rest of the season, and he was fined 25k.  But they didn't fire him, even after it came to light that the trip wasn't just a spur of the moment reaction, but a pre-meditated act.  Alosi supposedly ordered the players to stand there with him in that line with the sole intent of interfering with the defender.

According to Jets' GM Mike Tannenbaum, the idea to do this was all Alosi's.  "This is just about Sal," he said.

Now, gunners on punts get pushed out of bounds all the time.  But it's somewhat fishy that Alosi lined up his wall at a spot right where the Jet player shoved Carroll out of bounds - almost like the Jet player was in on it too.

And if he was, that makes the idea that this was solely Alosi's action even less likely, since I'm not sure I buy a Strength Coach running around the sidelines gathering guys up and saying "Let's go form a wall!" on his own volition. 

It reeks of a cover-up; is if an order (or suggestion) came down from on-high, and Alosi is being a good soldier and taking the blame for the consequences.  Thus, the Jets will find it hard to fire a man who could go all Woodward and Bernstein on them.

It's a mystery wrapped in a riddle inside an enigma.