This thread is filled with invalid opinions really. The OP's, and the people claiming Gridiron (American) Football is easy/ for wimps. I mean, I really doubt any of you guys in the UK have had to put on heavy, thick, non aerated pads and a black jersey and play football in 105 degree (Fahrenheit) heat from 9 in the morning to 3 in the afternoon. You all act like there's so many long breaks in American Football, well, when you're on the field in the heat, in that 15-20 seconds you get is [i]never[/i] enough to catch your breath after sprinting after a receiver for 60 yards before hustling back to the line and prepare to the the whole thing again. It's not easy. And, all throughout the off season is working out. You don't want the other team stronger than you, so, you push your body and build your muscles. From January (high school), to September. It's a hardcore sport when the smallest guy on the field weighs 215 pounds and can squat over 400 lbs (about 182 kg). It's brutal, and punishing. And the pads make the hits harder at the benefit of shielding your bones. The thing is, we play our sports and your sports (in fact, most American Football players start out with Soccer when they're young and move to American Football when they get to high school). You guys don't play ours... That's perfectly fine, but, you haven't actually experienced playing American Football. And it's more than just the pain and the tough part. It's also an awesome Saturday and Sunday tradition. Just gathering with your friends on a crisp 40 degree day to play Football with your friends... That's a great and epic feeling. /epic, passionate rant [Edited on 06.12.2010 4:05 PM PDT]