Why? Is he a pansy? Different set of standards for him than the other players? He was attempting to make a tackle and the Saints player prevented him from doing so...AS HE SHOULD. Once the ball is turned over the QB no longer has the protection afforded his position when on offense. There was no cheap shot, just a sound block. If the QB is going to participate in attempting to make a tackle he has no protection not afforded another player.
Agree with everything else you said, but I think the hit was done with serious malice aforethought.
I watched the replay several times in slow motion, and it's pretty clear that it was something more than just a block.