I thought professional football is the modern day gladiators. The NFL should increase the violence, not decrease it. Violence sells and sells big in the US. Just look at the appetite for it in this thread alone. The nation that won't stand for a public execution laps up pro football. The ratings would probably go even higher if there was guaranteed bloodshed every Sunday of the season, with regular dismemberment and death on the field. That would also increase the number of job openings in football as well. We have a lot in common with Rome at its apex. Win-win all around.