NFL player safety.

The NFL is trying to make the game safer. They've eliminated head shots, leading with the head, and given players more padding in certain areas. However, if they really want to make the game safer, they should give their players less padding not more. Allow me to explain.
For those who read this who are familiar with Don Cherry you've seen him advocate multiple times for the players to have thinner shoulder pads in the NHL. They aren't the big clunky plastic that does damage to players' heads. Well, it's a similar concept in the NFL.
If players don't have great big clunky equipment, it won't do as much damage to another player when they hit them. Also, another big thing with smaller and less equipment is not only does a hit do damage to the player on the receiving end of the hit, the person doing the hitting will feel it too. If it hurts to deliver a big damaging hit that could cause an injury there's a large chance that players won't want to do them and instead will tackle more safely. This won't hinder their ability to deliver big hits either. There are much safer ways to deliver punishing hits than what we sometimes see in the NFL today.
Look at rugby. While I'm don't watch the sport regularly, I'm guessing they don't deliver hits where they lead with their head too often. But yet, the occasional time I do watch some of a game there are still some big hits delivered without all the equipment. I'm not suggesting the NFL go with no equipment, but I think a lot less than what they wear would help.
However, after some research I just did, it turns out rugby has about the same amount of concussions of the NFL (possibly even 5% higher), however when you look at the two sports, rugby has scrums where who knows what is happening at the bottom of them? If rugby was played more like football with less of the scrums and more outright tackling, I think it would be safer and that there is something to say for the NFL reducing player equipment. One option of this is losing the face mask to make leading with the head more dangerous. I have only talked a little bit about the article though. If you want to read more this is the link.

http://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2027053,00.html

Your thoughts are always welcome in the comments section,

Darren.