If soldiers in war can, often but not always, respect their foes and treat them as fellow soldiers when in a POW situation, then certainly athletes should be able to do the same.
Sort of surprised other NFL QBs do not do the same thing. Getting hit is part of the game and if an opponent makes a good clean play there is honor in acknowledging that.
The defense could do the same if they wanted to. Great pass Andrew! Great handoff! Great scrambling! etc etc