The answer is android players. Predicted by The Jetsons, but they all had Polish names, for some reason.
What about turning it into flag football. The only “skill” that is lost is the ability to inflict bone-jarring hits will be removed. Everything else, speed, agility, quickness will remain.
I suppose, though, that everyone would see it more for what it really is - a game. And who wants to play to watch grown men play a game? The gladiator effect is what takes it up a notch, makes us want to pay to watch.
The Jetsons came out in '62-'63. A different era.