I 90% agree - but the inducements and pressure on athletes from the big prizes of sport mean that there is a duty of care as well. The use of padding seems to increase injury in both NFL and Rugby but makes for more spectacular and acceptable TV (players being visibly knocked out or stretchered off are upsetting viewing), gloves and head guards in boxing the same. In Rugby the rules are being altered to reduce blows to the head and being honest I think that it will not change the character of the game at all. Combat sports and soccer are bigger challenges, although for soccer I wonder if the changes in pitches and balls over the last 30 years mean that the data on player injury is much less valid - the aerial game doesn't mean much to Messi after all.