@wundayatta HAHA that is funny, let me ask you this, how many 300+ lb. players in football, how many players break for a long run and need oxygen? You are right about not cutting it in the big leagues, but you have it backwards. Rugby came before American football, and are we talking about salaries? Without Rugby, you wouldn’t have you precisous sport they call “football” where you use your foot once in a while.
As for more strategic thinking, the players in American Football line up where, every play? Oh! The same place they did the last 30 plays! In rugby, the only time you are required to be in the same position is a scrum or line out. Also, how many breaks do you get in football, well, let us see, three timeouts each team per half, a two minute warning per half, any injury timeouts, oh and the beloved TV break. NOT to mention the wonderful 40 second time limit they get when a play stops.
And can you please tell me how many breaks you get in rugby? It’s okay, I’ll wait… That’s right. Running time of 45 minutes, plus stoppage time. If there is an injury, the player gets to lay there until it is safe for medics to come to him, there are phases, not plays, and play doesn’t stop when a man is tackled. So more fit and talented? Yes! Ruggers take the cake! Name one time a Rugger breaks for a crazy run and needs oxygen on the sideline. OH, again, they don’t go to the sideline because they play offense and defense. Football you get continuous substitutions, and Rugby, you get seven all game.
You’re right, your American Football players just can’t cut it in the big leagues.