this seems like an issue that can be greatly reduced if we change some very basic rules of the game. instead of discussing ways to hit people differently or inventing better helmets we need to change the idea that one inch of space is the difference between winning and losing. rugby is dangerous but significantly less dangerous because a full-on collision to prevent a once-inch gain doesn't exist. one ince is meaningless and is the absolute difference in safety.
I don't know but a few things come to mind.
-Every 10 yard marker is a first down - once you're past the marker an extra foot won't really matter. less incentive to crash into guys on both ends.
-X downs to get down the field. that extra yard won't matter as much if you have 7 downs left rather than one down left.
-Each team starts on the 25 and there are no kickoffs.
-Runningback can not put his head down into a defender
-Once you're "wrapped up" the whistle is blown. No fighting for that extra yard.
-No tackling receivers in the air. period.
-No leaving the feet to tackle.
sure, these might be seen as "non-manly" changes in a manly sport but without kids to play the sport dies. you can adapt or die as a sport and to not address these "wussification" things is to kill the sport you love.
