Bobby McCray Is Not a Dirty Player. Deal With It

"Bobby McCray could have ended Brett Favre's career."

"Bobby McCray's hit on Kurt Warner was dirty."

"McCray is the most unclassy player ever."

Oh, please...

There have been numerous articles, both on BleacherReport and elsewhere, that vilify the Saints defensive end for his "unwarranted" treatment of opposing quarterbacks.

These people will point to two incidents. First, when McCray blocked QB Kurt Warner of the Arizona Cardinals on an interception return. Second, when McCray tackled Brett Favre of the Minnesota Vikings below the knees on a sack attempt. Both were brutal hits that put the hurt on the quarterbacks unfortunate enough to endure them.

Neither hit was dirty. One was illegal. That's indisputable. Was it dirty? No.

Kurt Warner attempted a short pass that was ultimately intercepted by Saints DE Will Smith. Warner, after the interception, became a defensive player. His job was to tackle the player with the ball.

McCray, however, became an offensive player, with the task of blocking for the player with the ball.

Warner was unfortunate enough to be in the closest proximity to McCray after the interception. The resulting hit/block sent Warner crashing to the turf, dazed. He would return, but in a much more hesitant, wary form.

The hit, while brutal, was a legal block for an interception return. McCray said it best when claiming "You're a dumb defensive lineman if you don't block the quarterback off an interception return"

McCray's hit on Brett Favre, on the other hand, is another matter. According to the "Tom Brady Rule" that hit is illegal, and subject to a 15 yard penalty.

That call has been inconsistent all year. In the Saints-Dolphins game earlier in the year, a Joey Porter sack of Drew Brees was a very similar, if not worse, hit below the knees. Porter, about to be blocked, dove low, grabbing Brees' legs and throwing him to the ground.

Very similar to McCray's hit on Favre.

Brees got up after the sack, and completed a 13 yard strike to Marques Colston soon after.

Was it illegal? Yes

Was it dirty? No

Lay off of Bobby McCray. He has done nothing but play football the way he was taught to play it