Shaun O’Hara was fined 5 thousand dollars for hitting DT Darnell Dockett of the Caardinals after the whistle. The penalty occurred after a field goal attempt, when O’Hara thought Dockett was trying to hurt guard Kevin Boothe.

“I wasn’trying to be cheap. I was trying to protect my teammate,” O’Hara said after the game. “It looked like he was trying to hurt one of my guys. I’m glad it didn’t cost our team. I know Coach Coughlin won’t like this, but I’d do it again if I had to.”

Well, it did cost the team fifteen yards on the kickoff but not a victory. This is O’Hara’s second fine on the year, but I have to tell you I like the way he stuck up for his teammate. Yes, a 15 yard penalty can alter a game, but sometimes sticking up for a teammate is worth it. It’s the philosophy that I like, perhaps not the behavior. Still, it shows that O’Hara won’t let he or his teammates be pushed around, but you have to balance that with keeping a level head. Unlike hockey there are no enforcers to stick up to bully’s, so occasionally this happens, hopefully the referees take care of it in the future.