Football... The sport that does everything to protect practically your entire body, won't be around. A sport that practically EVERYONE LOVES? Won't be around...
But Boxing, a sport based on literally fighting (something you get flagged for with pads on) is okay? They have padded gloves, so it must not be the same, right? But these guys 80% on the time aim for the head. These guys who have the power to punch with a force of over 1,000 lbs, bash the other guys, unprotected face. They get broken jaws, lose teeth, broken cheek bones, broken noses and swelling to the eyes... And Concussions, on occasion that would make you question if the guy would come back for more and continue his career... And he generally does.
And don't get me start on MMA! A sport with even less padding on the hands and even less rules for safety comparative to boxing and definitely to football, and it makes multi millions, and it isn't even in question to the safety of players as compared to football. Here the injuries occur to the entire body. Blount force truama, broken bones to the face, shoulders, arms, hands, ribs and legs... And Concussions. These guys literally tear each other apart. But it's a travesty when a "padded" player receives a significant injury.
Comparatively, more MMA fighters are injured with career ending injuries than to football players. Now we're talking pros. But I'll even add in the college game, out of the literal thousands of players, chances for concussion is slim. And generally that concussion is mild, we only hear of the major concussions, which knocks the number down even more. I'm failing to see how these other two professions are okay.
And I question the integrity of people who "choose" to play a physical sport, knowing the risk that they put themselves in. Succeed in said sport. Make a significant better living in said sport that the vast majority of the country. And then questions the "games integrity". As if the sport has never tried to protect its players...
And yet, Rugby has been around quite longer. Has always had less pads, and seems to be just fine, because it's an international sport.
The Running of the Bulls has been brought to question in America far more than in any other country, including Spain, yet thousands every year join, "WILLINGLY" knowing full well then risk of 1-5 of them during that run.
Bull fighting is still a full on profession, and the risk is significantly higher of injury or death than football.
Racing, yep. They get a helmet. And a car that is caged around them for padding, yet go hundreds of miles per hour and we wait in anticipation for the "big one" to happen every year. Cars thousands of pounds going 100 mph flipping out of control. Broken bones, concussions, dehydration, and death... Still going.