I just watched the replay of that part of the game. As ridiculous as it sounds, I think he was just trying to punch the ball. There is no camera angle to verify or deny that, but it didn't look like he was throwing haymakers at someone. I don't have a problem with the call, but watching the replay doesn't make me think he was blatantly malicious.
I agree, but the stupid thing about the play was that, even if he had knocked the ball loose, the player was already on the ground, and there is no way it could have been ruled a fumble.