Before the introduction of pads, did American Football tackles resemble those of Rugby football?

Before pads, the gents rolled up old newspapers and taped them to their body.

In 1947 with the advent of feminine care products, player found them much more usable than newspaper.

Subsequently, newspaper sales dropped off sharply causing a small recession.

Prior to newspapers, players would shave a sheep and tie the wool around their bodies.

This practice was discontinued when Jiles Puffinbach was convicted of bestiality in 1914.