My Sources

The Brain That Sparked The NFL's Concussion Crisis 
by Jeanne Marie Laskas - December 2, 2015 - via The Atlantic

Jeanne Marie Laskas, the acclaimed author of Concussion (later turned into a major motion picture) and writer for GQ and The New York Times Magazine, writes about the autopsy that sparked the revolutionary and historical NFL-concussion crisis. Laskas identifies the stakeholders of not only the National Football League, but medical professionals and the public as the condition could no longer be ignored. The piece was written within the conventions of a retrospective account as it recalled the ignorance displayed by the NFL towards the pathologist who evaluated the history-changing brain after attempting to present his findings and act upon it.

Antwaan Randle El Educating Youth on Dangers of Football
ESPN.com news services - January 22, 2015 - via ESPN

ESPN, the most-viewed network across the globe behind BBC News, is a longstanding sports network renowned for its omnipotent, encompassing, efficient sports news coverage. This news story is powerful and unique in nature that this is the first of the projected many NFL players that today's generation grew up watching and expected to fall to the detriment of repeated head trauma resulting in CTE. Antwaan Randle El, a popular retired professional football player, states his extreme remorse regarding pursuing a career in the NFL and his retrospective desire to not have ever played, or at least not played injured, if he could. Randle El, 36, discusses his looming neurological problems and his current problems with walking down a flight of stairs and carrying coherent conversations. He also asserts the game of football essentially puts players in a car accident every week and today's youth should steer clear along with his prediction of the sport's extinction in a few decades.

League of Denial: The NFL Concussion Crisis
produced by Michael Kirk, Jim Gilmore, and Mike Wiser - October 8, 2013 - via PBS

A landmark documentary a part of the critically-acclaimed video series Frontline by PBS, this video essay vividly, accurately, and thoroughly explains the entirety of the NFL concussion crisis. The video accounts the lawsuit filed by thousands of NFL players against the league for covering up the long-term detrimental effects incurred by a career in professional football. This investigation specifically explores the guilt of the NFL, and what information the NFL knew when.

NFL Head, Neck, and Spine Committee's Protocols Regarding Diagnosis and Management of Concussion
Official league document - produced following lawsuit - via NFL

The newfound concussion protocol which is the NFL's resolve to this entire crisis in addition to the monumental billion-dollar settlement. This document also incorporates independent neurological consultants for the first time in league history. All rules, guidelines, and protocol are outlined in great detail in respect to the event if a player obtains a head injury. Not only must team doctors clear players, but now an additional measure of an independent, unaffiliated neurologist's approval must be a part of the process.

Brains Under Pressure: Concussion Crisis Continues to Haunt the NFL
by Tyler Dunne - September 27, 2015 - via The Buffalo News

Tyler Dunne's comprehensive review and statistical analysis of the NFL in regards to the concussion crisis considers the past, present, and future of the league, the sport, and all stakeholders concerned. Dunne, a composer of hundreds of pieces for The Buffalo News, discusses the specific players' horrific accounts, past players' who were concealed from the evidence of concussions and their effects, the growing collection of data from retired players, and the importance of aspiring players' parents in this crisis. He magnifies the point regarding 'the NFL having to win over Mom' and signifies this specific stakeholder's relation to the future of the sport. This piece was written as an analysis that was reviewing the controversy as a whole.

Can the NFL Survive Its Concussion Crisis?
by Katie Drummond - January 31, 2014 - via The Verge

This piece specifically pertains to the societal impact of the NFL concussion crisis. Katie Drummond presents the infamous perspective that the NFL is simply too statistically influential and popular of a monopoly to fail regardless of circumstance. However, Drummond presents the declining rate of participation in youth football as well as the decline in NFL consistency in monitoring concussions and head trauma even following the 2013 lawsuit, such as the team doctors' negligence to inquire the required neurotrauma consultant's medical review. A few more stakeholders are presented - the economy; the NFL has guaranteed to pay for retired player's medical expenses for five years following their departure from league play and this financial obligation can prove to be detrimental going forward as more and more players retire.

These Fringe Doctors Say They Can Cure NFL Concussion Victims
by Jason Schwartz - November 17, 2013 - via New Republic

Jason Schwartz, a journalist for New Republic, tells the story of several doctors attempting to capitalize on the market created by the NFL - the market to solve their multibillion dollar dilemma of concussions in the NFL. A new stakeholder, technological innovators and medical evolutionists alike are attempting to solve the puzzle quickly, efficiently (cost-wise as well), and effectively. This occurs in the context of the pursuit for a preemptive measure regarding concussions for all levels of football following the infamous NFL vs. players lawsuit.

NFL Lockout Could Cost $160 Million, 115,000 Jobs
by James Parks - December 3, 2010 - via Today's Workplace

This source (statistician's account) has no particular stake in the NFL concussion controversy and occurred prior to it, but rather I will be bringing into the financial implications league failure and league decline in popularity could do to hundreds of thousands of people. This is to discuss the economic and financial stake millions have in the league and how the concussion crisis could be a detriment to this.

Why Former 49ers Chris Borland is The Most Dangerous Man in Football
by Steve Fainaru and Mark Fainaru-Wada - August 21, 2015 - via ESPN

Steve Fainaru and Mark Fainaru-Wada are two seasoned reporters for the globally-renowned sports network of ESPN; they take a close look at what Chris Borland's decision can do to the outlook and future of the NFL. Chris Borland is regarded as perhaps a catalyst in the NFL concussion crisis as he is the most notable player to retire from the NFL prematurely ate age 24 following one season due to his intense fear and worry regarding the effects of playing in the league. He comes out and asserts the corruption of the NFL and his distrust in the league. He also explains how he educated himself regarding the concussion crisis and how the brain damage was simply not worth playing in the league. Prospective players now become a prominent stakeholder in this as they are the ones who can ultimately decide the fate of the NFL. Borland stresses violence is integral to the sport and how no progression technologically or medically will inhibit from brain-injury and head-trauma from taking its merciless toll on players.

The Limits of Football Helmets
by Jack Moore - February 5, 2016 - via The Atlantic

Jack Moore, a technology expert and columnist for several online papers, discusses the growing competition between sports-gear powerhouses Riddell and STAR to produce the safest, concussion-preventive device to save the future of football. Moore also brings in several experts to discuss the misperception of safety ratings and how they may be relatively safe, the entire sport and technology is still very prone to detrimental head trauma. Statistics presented in this piece will add to the appeal to ethos in my controversy postmortem.