NFL Wider Field

[maven]

I have some other ideas for reducing the energy of collisions:

Longer grass/turf
No shoes allowed
Sumo suits
Increase the number of players per team to 33
Play in a swimming pool

Others?

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by maven

I have some other ideas for reducing the energy of collisions:

Longer grass/turf
No shoes allowed
Sumo suits
Increase the number of players per team to 33
Play in a swimming pool

Others?

Yeah, thicker, softer padding on everything, including the outsides of helmets. It doesn't technically reduce the energy of the collision, but dissipates it over a longer time or impact. The main problem is that the better you protect the head, the greater the danger to the neck.

Or you outlaw pads & helmets entirely, and the players may (or may not) reduce the energy of their collisions.

Softer playing surface, as you suggest, might help too, as in mandatory muddy field. Wrestling mats would be very effective but very expensive; used as is for football, they'd probably need replacing every game.