"I said a long time ago if you want to change the game take the mask off the helmet," the former NFL player and coach told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Wednesday. "If you want to change the game and get it back to where people aren't striking with the head and using the head as a weapon, take the mask off the helmet.

"A lot of pretty boys aren't going to stick their face in there. If you're going to take hitting out of football, you might as well just call it soccer. [Vince] Lombardi said it a long time ago. Football is not a contact game. Dancing is a contact game. Football is a collision sport."

Ditka, known as "Iron Mike" for his hard-nosed style of play as a Hall of Fame tight end for the Bears, Eagles and Cowboys, made the comments while visiting his alma mater, the University of Pittsburgh.

Ditka said he understands why the league is trying to stamp out the illegal, vicious hits that sideline many players. But he doesn't want legitimate hitting legislated out of the game.

"It's not a pansy league; you can't legislate hitting out of football," Ditka said. "It's impossible."

Several players have been penalized for illegal hits this season. The New York Jets' Eric Smith was suspended for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Arizona Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin on Sept. 28. Boldin needed surgery to repair a dislocated jaw.