Aside from this craving violence angle, which I don't take seriously at all, are there any redeeming qualities of American football compared to other sports? I guess the unlimited substitution thing makes it participatory at e.g. high-schools level as teams can be enormous. But a lot of expensive equipment is required and the brain injury problem seem to more than compensate for any possible benefit of getting kids to run around. Soccer is clearly a rotten affair internationally (FIFA), but the sport itself seems much less harmful on several levels.