Whatever Happened To The Good Ole Days?

I'm gonna go in a different direction in this entry and get a little off topic. Instead of talking about how Cleveland is going to get dismantled this weekend by Jacksonville, I'd rather talk about the NFL's current crackdown on hitting during games.
Everyone has known, since the dawn of time, that quarterbacks (and kickers) wear skirts. They are not allowed to get hit all week in practice and when you hit them in a game, it's a penalty. So if it wasn't blatantly obvious before, consider this a crash course in wussification. Now onto my gripe with Roger Goodell and his recent policies regarding "safety" in the NFL. These policies have now placed skirts on every player who steps on the field. The bone-crushing, jaw-jarring, gut-busting hits that have been the trademark of football are being removed from the game. Take Adrian Wilson's hit on Trent Edwards a few weeks back (scroll forward to about the 20 second mark). This hit was clean demonstrated by there no flag being thrown by the referees. However; he was fined tens of thousands by the league and warned that if he hit anyone like that every again more severe action would be taken i.e. a suspension. This is ludicrous. Whatever happened to tackling? I mean this was a textbook play by a Pro-Bowl caliber safety. What was Wilson supposed to do!? Was he just supposed to stop and just try and push Edwards over with his pinky finger? NO! He put his helmet in his chest and buried him to the turf. Any TRUE coach and player would appreciate this type of play; not reprimand it.
Eric Smith's hit on Anquan Boldin was also a perfect play (scroll forward to about the 17 second mark). This helmet to helmet stuff is bullcrap. A hit's a hit. Smith made a play. I mean if I'm this guys coach, I'm jumping for joy because he prevented a touchdown. It's unfortunate that Boldin got hurt. I don't deny that, but injuries are part of the game. Every player understands the risks of strappin on the pads on Sunday's. They understand the consequences that may occur as a result of playing one of the most violent games in the world today. There is no way around it. Injuries are a part of the game. Players are gonna get hurt no matter how hard they get hit. A player can tear his ACL and end his career just by making a cut or falling awkwardly to the turf. Coaches often preach that going any less than 110% in between those sidelines will get you seriously injured. So why are people encouraging them to tone it down? It doesn't make sense. It really doesn't.
Roger Goodell and anyone who agrees with his "safety" policies, (this even includes the parents of little Joey in Pee-Wee football. Yes you too!) I have a message for you. GET OUT OF FOOTBALL and let real men run the sport. I admire men like Mike Ditka across the USA for one simple reason. THEY WANT TO PRESERVE THE GAME THEY LOVE SO MUCH. For those of you who didn't hear Ditka's sarcastic comments on the state of the league, he said that if the commish really wanted to prevent hitting other players, he should take the facemasks off of their helmets. If I'm the only one who finds what is happening to football (and to America in general, but that's a whole different topic for another day) to be repulsive than I feel sorry for the future of the game. I don't think football will survive if the violence of the game is taken away. Then again flag football is pretty popular, right?