I see a lot more sportsmanship on football fields than I do in a lot of so-called 'non-contact' sports.
And though there are injuries, football keeps innovating padding and safety. Here's a list of penalties, if'n interested:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penalty_(gridiron_football)
Case in point: the penalty is so high for a facemask (15 yards, auto first down) because you can break someone's freaking neck!
Just like Little Miss A Lot To Learn could have done by shoving that other girl so violently.
Rugby? My brother played that too. Much more dangerous. Mom wouldn't go watch him play (wouldn't watch me skydive, either.)
My brother went to college on a football scholarship, they sent him for his master's (at a very nice school) while he was grad asst football coach.
He is highly successful, smart, and all the pieces of his head are there.