If you don't think it's the objective of every defense in the NFL to try and hurt the opposing team's quarterback, you're clueless.
Now I'm not talking permanent injury, but they all want to deliver pain on every down. It's part of the game.
Most QBs would have been out of that game in the first quarter but it shows how tough Favre is. Dude is the terminator out there. Feel bad that he lost but he's got his ring and he got in the way of destiny this year.
You're right, I'm totally clueless.
Every D wants to take out a QB. I get that. No question. I was a 4 y/o watching MNF with my dad when I saw Theismann's leg bend back like a snapped twig. That was a fluke, LT was a dangerous guy but he didn't intend for that to happen. He still hasn't seen a replay- to this day. Shit happens when you have 300+ lb guys knocking you over from multiple directions.
Now fast forward to last night. If you go through the replays, there is no way you can deny that the blitz team for NO were gunning to
take Favre out. Why? AP is overrated and, even nearing 41, Favre was still the most potent offensive player they had. Take him out and you uproot their ability to score, which, ostensibly they did after that left ankle hit.
Did you notice that every subsequent hit after that was ginger by comparison? Yeah, they may have still knocked him over, but compared to the first 11 drills he got the latter 4 or 5 looked like they were playing tag. They still achieved their objective as a D, but they didn't do it by intentionally hurting a guy who is- love him or hate him- a living legend on the football field.
That is all. That is my point. I would argue you can play effective defense without having to aim to maim someone on every blitz. Shit, Craig MacTavish played NHL hockey for more than 20 years without a helmet and still won a Stanley Cup with the Rangers in 94. Why? Because no one made it their goal every play to take his head off.