At Least Sal Alosi Isn’t a Weasel

After committing acts of wrongdoing, people often make an exhaustive attempt to cover up their culpability. Even in the face of irrefutable evidence, guilty individuals not uncommonly take a position or make statements that border on the preposterous in a last-ditch effort to convince others of their innocence. It’s gratifying that New York Jets strength and conditioning coach Sal Alosi didn’t fall into that trap.

When we saw Alosi appear to deliberately trip a Miami Dolphins player racing down the sidelines to cover a punt yesterday, we went on alert, fully expecting Alosi to provide some behaviorally lame excuse or denial for what happened. Much to our surprise and to Alosi's credit, he did exactly the opposite: He unhesitatingly told the truth. In his post-game comments he appeared to accept full responsibility, saying, "I made a mistake that showed a total lapse in judgment."

Amazingly, in an era when more people are done in by their efforts to cover up their wrongdoing rather than by the misdeed itself, Alosi readily admitted that he interfered with the player.

"My conduct was inexcusable and unsportsmanlike and does not reflect what this organization stands for," Alosi said after the game. No doubt, the NFL should and will come down hard on Alosi. But at a time when so many players and coaches have taken the "weasel" approach in trying to minimize or hide their wrongdoing, we hope the NFL will factor Alosi's candor into whatever punishment it metes out to him.