Former Buffalo Bill Steve Tasker, one of the greatest special teams players in history, said the Jets' tactic -- if intentional -- didn't bother him at all. He didn't condone Alosi's trip, but he has no problem with a team trying to defend its sideline to prevent a gunner from gaining field position.
"No question, you're not supposed to trip someone, but I think this is an overreaction," he said in a phone interview. "This isn't stealing signs or illegal taping or somebody sabotaging something. It was just a guy, reacting."
Tasker said he made a living out of running out of bounds as a gunner, using the sideline to escape blockers. One time, in a game against the Jets, he was so far out of bounds that he ran through the bench area to break free. Another time, he said he was tripped by former Giants punter Sean Landeta while running on the boundary.
"You think this is the first time [a trip] ever happened? Come on," Tasker said. "Guys were always giving me extra shoves. You don't want to see someone get hurt, but it's not a big deal. Why wouldn't you give a guy a forearm shiver? Everyone on the sideline is part of a team and they all want to win. Shoot, even the doctors are competitive.
"If [the Jets] are coached to do that, so what? Call a penalty on them. If a gunner is going to use the sideline as a weapon, like I did, why wouldn't you want to form a road block? There's nothing wrong with that as long as it's within the rules."
Because of Tasker, the league changed the rules, restricting the gunner -- aka the Steve Tasker Rule. On Monday, ESPN Senior NFL Analyst Chris Mortensen reported the NFL will send a memo to all 32 clubs as a reminder that they should adhere to league rules that require players,
