My thoughts:
Sure guys are bigger and faster today then they were however many years ago, but the technology as far as pads, preparation etc has all progressed along side it. Who didn't want to see cassel come in and be the man? I mean in a league where quarterbacks can't be touched, we would have never known who (just one example) kurt warner was. People love rooting for an underdog player just as much as (actually probably more than) seeing the big name player take the field.
Your thoughts?