No shoulder pads, fantastic conditioning, minimal headgear (protecting against cauliflower ears,) and plenty of violence.
The injuries are considerably less because one can't run at 100% into the body of an opponent without reciprocal injury.
-—The injuries are considerably less because one can’t run at 100% into the body of an opponent without reciprocal injury.——
Makes sense. The only problem I can see is a vulnerable receiver getting “pin-wheeled” and landing on his head.