Former Dolphin kicks Jets incident up a notch

As the New York Jets prepare to take another step toward securing a spot in the playoffs, the spotlight remains on one of their assistant coaches who put his worst foot forward.

Sal Alosi, the Jets strength and conditioning coach, was suspended for the rest of the season and fined $25,000 by the team for using his knee to intentionally trip a Miami Dolphins player running out of bounds on the sideline on a punt.

The lingering question: Was it simply a rogue act, or did the Jets deliberately form a human wall along the boundary to crowd the Dolphins’ outside coverage man? Alosi was the first in a line of Jets employees who stood shoulder-to-shoulder along the sideline.

Former Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas believes it was no accident those men were in that formation.

“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 coach’s 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 coach’s box.”

In a statement issued Monday by the Jets, special-teams coach Mike Westhoff denied he instructed anyone to stand along the sideline to obstruct the opposition.

“No. 1, I did not instruct anyone,” said Westhoff, whose team plays at Pittsburgh on Sunday. “No. 2, I was not aware. With all of the people on the sidelines, it would be inconsequential and I would not be involved in any way, shape or form.”

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said by e-mail that Ray Anderson, the league’s football-operations executive, is “reviewing sideline protocols from a leaguewide perspective.”

No horsing around

Around this time last year, the Indianapolis Colts were still undefeated and had the luxury of taking their foot off the accelerator — specifically, resting Peyton Manning — and coasting into the playoffs.

Now, the Colts are fighting for their postseason lives.

If they lose at home Sunday to Jacksonville, the Colts (7-6) can essentially call it a season. They trail the Jaguars (8-5) by a game in the AFC South and have already lost to them once.

Since the NFL realigned its divisions in 2002, the Jaguars have never won the AFC South. Indianapolis has won six division titles and has beaten Jacksonville in 12 of 17 meetings, a lot of those very close games.

“They’re like our little brother right now,” Colts running back Dominic Rhodes told the Indianapolis Star.

If they’re like brothers, this is one nasty sibling rivalry, complete with boiling jealousies just below the surface.

“Everybody keeps saying Indy, Indy,” Jaguars linebacker Kirk Morrison told the Florida Times-Union. “What about us? What about the Jacksonville Jaguars? What about us going out and executing and holding everything we want in our own hands?”

Jaguars-Colts is one of several top-notch matchups in Week 15, games that will go a long way toward determining who plays in the postseason, and who will be spectators.

Other key games

San Francisco at San Diego: They play at Qualcomm Stadium on Thursday night, and both teams are desperate for a victory. The loser can kiss goodbye any hopes of making the playoffs.

Green Bay at New England: The Patriots have won 26 consecutive regular-season home games with Tom Brady at quarterback. The Packers, who urgently need to win, might be without quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who is recovering from a concussion.

New York Jets at Pittsburgh: The Jets have lost two games in a row and haven’t scored an offensive touchdown in nine quarters. They’re in danger of fading from the wild-card picture. Pittsburgh has the AFC’s second-best record and a first-round bye in its crosshairs.

Philadelphia at New York Giants: The NFC East is up for grabs, and the Eagles and Giants are tied at 9-4. When the teams met last month, the Eagles picked off three Eli Manning passes.

Kansas City at St. Louis: The two teams from Missouri are either atop or share the lead in their divisions. The Chiefs are 2-5 on the road and are expecting to get Matt Cassel back at quarterback after he sat out Sunday’s game while recovering from an appendectomy.

sam.farmer@latimes.com

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