This is a video montage that literally has those kind of hits in it, and it's from the NFL. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CS91y9WHuiM
I understand the point of those kind of hits happening less often, but to say they don't happen at all, I gotta disagree with you there man. Ultimately, you also gotta factor in the "it's a video game" element as well.
Like I said, I agree that it should be nullified to an extent, but if it was EA, 2k, or whoever the name brand, if there's a "big hit" button command, that's exactly what people expect to see when that controller command is entered when playing these games....a big hit.