"They had to be ordered to stand there because they're foot to foot," Thomas said Tuesday on Miami radio station WQAM. "There's four of them, side to side -- five of them, I mean -- on the edge of the coaches' zone. They're only out there to restrict the space of the gunner.
"But there's more to it because I'm telling you, the only thing [Alosi] did wrong was intentionally put that knee out there. If he just stood there, there would never have been a problem, even if the guy got tripped. But there's more to this. He was ordered to stand there. No one is foot to foot on the sideline in the coaches' box."
Actually, it was a six-man line, starting with Alosi and defensive lineman Marcus Dixon (inactive). It's believed the other four also were inactive players. They were in a tight formation, almost like soccer players preparing to defend a direct kick. Their toes were right up against the boundary, with Alosi positioned in the corner of the coaches' box.
Coincidence? When Carroll approached at full speed, not one of them flinched, suggesting it was a show of force that appeared to be orchestrated. Alosi and Jets officials denied that, claiming they don't coach that tactic -- an unsavory technique that is semi-prevalent around the league.
Everybody knows what happened next: Alosi infamously extended his left knee as Carroll ran by on a punt, causing the Miami rookie to fall on his face -- an "irresponsible" act (Alosi's word) that resulted in him being suspended without pay for the rest of the season and fined $25,000 by the Jets.
A close examination of the TV replay shows that Dixon was leaning in with his left shoulder, perhaps preparing for contact as well.
"Something is fishy," said an opposing personnel executive, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
The executive said the Jets have shown a penchant in recent weeks for using sideline personnel as a deterrent to gunners -- players sprinting the sideline in an attempt to get to the returner quickly -- adding that the Jets' sideline is conspicuously clear when their team is doing the punting.
One punt before the Carroll trip, Alosi and four others were lined up in a similar fashion. On that play, Dolphins gunner Reshad Jones came barreling into the sideline area. Because he didn't return immediately to the field, he was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct. Even though they benefited from the penalty, the Jets responded as if their turf had been invaded.
"It was kind of curious," said a former longtime NFL special-teams coach. "I mean, they had a bunch of guys lined up. It was unusual to say the least. If somebody ordered that, I'd be [ticked] off if I were Sal."
