The NFL today is one of the largest companies in the world and they still are finding a way to grow exponentially. The league today is beginning to venture to Europe, creating a whole new set of teams and a much different fan base than usual. This being said, the NFL faces a huge problem that may or may not affect their expansion, as well as their existence. One of the NFL's largest problems today are concussions. The problem with concussions is that some of them go unnoticed because the biggest issue to the league is not safety, but playing the game and getting paid. 

The main question is why this is such a big deal and why it is important. Well the NFL puts on a front to make their audience believe they are doing anything and everything to prevent these traumatic injuries. However, the league is simply covering up their players concussions, not showing all the evidence because their main priority is making a profit, and having star players sit out doesn't help. This essay revolves around the safety of the NFL as well as the treatment of ex-players who suffer from concussions as well. 

This research topic interest me because it involves my favorite sport football and is also a recent issue that is taking place in today's society. The NFL's problem with concussions, with the right research and the desire to fix the issue, can actually be fixed. This research topic doesn't necessarily involve any personal beliefs or values. On the contrary, I have suffered a concussion while playing football and realize the pain the players are forced to go through, as well as the effect it has on the player's personal life. I believe that I have a decent understanding of this topic to discuss its issues and provide a solution that would limit the number of concussions in the NFL, as well as create an easier way to diagnose concussions as soon as they happen. These simple solutions would change the face of the NFL, showing their audience on a national level how the value players safety. 

The first article that I choose to help with my topic was an article written by a sports caster for CNN news. This article discussed and proved that the league is not doing everything it can do to both prevent and also help with concussed players. The article also provides first hand sources from players who used to play in the NFL and have either been let off or retired due to concussions. The use of the credible sources provided in the article puts the NFL itself at stake for taking responsibility for "their" concussed players. The author of this source, is evidently against the NFL and seeks to expose how the league hasn't done enough to prevent concussions for their players as well showing the NFL ignores their ex-players. 

My second article is very similar to the first source I choose in how it uses interviews and quotes from former players of the NFL who were negatively affected by the lack of support when they suffered a concussion. The main purpose of this article is to expose the NFL as well. The article provides insight on the NFL on how they go about helping their former players or better yet how they seem to help. This source, besides the use of different quotes, have the same claims and statements as the first article. The NFL is to blame for these expired events. 

The last article derives most of its evidence against the NFL from a settlement made between the affected players of the NFL that suffer from concussions and the NFL themselves. The solution of the settlement forces the NFL to reimburse the ex-players for their injuries and also pushed the league to donate towards a foundation that researched concussions and finding ways to prevent concussions. This article doesn't go into detail as much as the other two do about who is to blame because it states that it is a mix of both parties. The NFL tries to deny concussions so the players still play as well as the players themselves, not takings precautionary actions. This source is very credible because it is from a report of a settlement that revolves around NFL and concussions and seems to contain little to no bias because it simply states what happened in the settlement. 

This research topic isn't that arguable because it is evident that concussions are occurring in the NFL but what can be argued is whose issue is it. Does this lie on the player's shoulders after they retire, or is it still the NFL's responsibility to take care of former players. Some disagreements that I found within the chosen articles is the difference in the responsibility of the concussions. Whether it be for the NFL to decide, or for the players. I might need to focus my research topic to something more specific to something like only how the NFL prevents concussions. 
