Wouldn't you love to know what Steelers linebacker James Harrison thinks of Jets strength and conditioning coach Sal Alosi?
You can probably bet that Harrison will be paying close attention to what the league and the Jets decide to do to reprimand Alosi following his blatant trip of Dolphins defensive back Nolan Carroll during Sunday's game.
Harrison, of course, has been fined over $100,000 for hits on the field that the league has deemed illegal. Needless to say, he probably won't be happy if the NFL does anything less than suspend Alosi for his actions.
If Harrison does feel that way, though, he's 100 percent right. What Alosi did on Sunday was absolutely inexcusable. In a year that's punished players for going all out on the field, the league needs to respond strongly to an off-field act that borders on cowardly.
The NFL has made a big deal about trying to make the game safer for its players. They've handed out suspensions for on-field hits at rates that we've never really seen before. What kind of message would the league be sending if they were to go easy on Alosi?
They need to prove that everyone, not just ferocious linebackers lining up wide receivers who go over the middle, needs to be held accountable.
The NFL also needs to do so to send the message to its players that they truly do have their backs. It's one thing to fine and suspend players for violence they inflict on each other, but when it's a coach on the sidelines going out of his way to inflict harm on an opposing player, that not only crosses a line, it's downright embarrassing.
The Dolphins are certainly calling for the league to act.
"Four games, the rest of the season, suspend him man, get him up out of there," Dolphins linebacker Karlos Dansby said following Miami's 10-6 win over the Jets on Sunday. "He's got to go, bringing down a whole organization like that. That's sad. You don't do a man like that."
Even Channing Crowder provided some thoughtful insight, for perhaps the first time in his career.
"They're cheaters," explained Crowder. "They do what they do. They cheat. They talk junk. But we beat the hell out of them. … He stuck his leg out and tripped him? He should be ashamed of himself. A grown man from the coaching staff? That's high character."
While this is ultimately bigger than the Jets — not to mention a 10-6 win isn't really "beating the hell out of someone" — Crowder is right. Alosi should be ashamed of himself and it's not a stretch to think that the league is also ashamed of Alosi.
Hopefully, they do the right thing by handing him down a sizeable suspension on their way to trying to absolve some of that shame.
What should the punishment be for Alosi's act? Share your thoughts below.
