Stakeholder #1

The following party and the one I will discuss in my next piece are the two predominant stakeholders in the NFL concussion crisis - the first obviously being the National Football League itself. The NFL employs hundreds, entertains millions, and essentially owns a day of the week. The league has built an impressive monopoly over the providing of the American’s population favorite sport, football. Their gargantuan headquarters standing tall in the heart of New York City is symbolic of the influence and pure hold the league holds over a vast majority of the American population. Following years of attempting to evade the concussion conversation, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s and the league’s negligence and ignorance proved to be their ultimate downfall when sued by current and former players regarding the issue. As stated in the sources’ synopses, this party has perhaps the largest share of stakes as made evident by its financial and ethical impact across the globe. A very large majority of the world’s population is familiar with the NFL depending on their access to television, the Internet, or any sort of media where the NFL is found in every corner. Three specific claims that the league makes which encompasses their stance in this controversy are the following (which come from this culmination of quotes):

“Concussions is one of these pack journalism issues, frankly. There’s no increase in concussions. The number is relatively small. The problem is, it is a journalist issue.” – Paul Tagliabue, former NFL commissioner

“The NFL sort of reminds me of the tobacco companies, pre-‘90s, when they kept saying, ‘no, there is no link between smoking and damage to your health.’” – Congresswoman Linda Sanchez

“If you read, it makes statements like what I practice is not medicine. It is not science. The NFL insinuated that I was no practicing medicine, I was practicing voodoo.” – Dr. Bennet Omalu

The former NFL commissioner’s claim has proven to be false over time, and the comparisons and accusations drawn from third parties now hold merit. The NFL practiced defamation and deception rather than responsibility and resolution. The NFL has differentiated stakes from any other party as they have the most to lose.