NEW YORK » The NFL fined the New York Jets $100,000 yesterday for violating league rules when assistant coach Sal Alosi tripped Miami’s Nolan Carroll on the sideline during a punt return earlier this month.

The Jets were punished because Alosi "placed players in a prohibited area on the sideline to impede an opposing team’s special teams players and gain a competitive advantage." The NFL called it "a competitive violation as well as a dangerous tactic."

The discipline was in response to the actions of Alosi, the Jets’ strength and conditioning coach, and comments made by special teams coach Mike Westhoff, who accused other teams of employing similar tactics.

"We will comply with the league’s decision," the Jets said in a statement.

Five inactive players were ordered by Alosi to stand together nearly shoulder-to-shoulder on the sideline in a 10-6 loss to Miami on Dec. 12.

Alosi was first suspended without pay for the season and fined $25,000 for tripping Carroll, before being suspended indefinitely by the team after acknowledging that he ordered the players to form the wall. Both Westhoff and coach Rex Ryan denied any knowledge of the tactic.

Harrison fine trimmed

The NFL has reduced the fine levied on Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison for his Oct. 17 hit on Browns wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi from $75,000 to $50,000. The league reduced the fine because it said Harrison has made an effort to adjust his technique to play within the player safety rules.

Vick likely to sit

Michael Vick missed practice yesterday because of a leg injury and is unlikely to play Sunday when the Eagles host Dallas. The NFC East champion Eagles (10-5) are locked into the No. 3 seed, so Vick may not have played even if he was completely healthy.

Favre still not cleared

Minnesota Vikings interim coach Leslie Frazier said yesterday that Brett Favre hasn’t passed a post-concussion test, leaving the 41-year-old quarterback roughly three more days to gain medical clearance to play Sunday at Detroit. The career record-holder in nearly every major statistical category for passing has said repeatedly this 20th NFL season will be his last.