Changes

Much of the appeal of the NFL is the illusion that it is merit-based, like the Olympics, and has the best players.  But the exclusion of Tim Tebow proves that the NFL is not really based on merit, but on [[political correctness]].

Much of the appeal of the NFL is the illusion that it is merit-based, like the Olympics, and has the best players.  But the exclusion of Tim Tebow proves that the NFL is not really based on merit, but on [[political correctness]].

There is also a growing concern that watching or supporting the NFL may be immoral, in light of a study revealing that 96% of deceased NFL players test positive for chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE.<ref>http://www.forbes.com/sites/dandiamond/2015/09/18/96-of-surveyed-nfl-players-test-positive-for-brain-disease/</ref>  Other studies suggest that the "average life expectancy of a retired NFL player is 55 years," and that "retired NFL players suffer from Alzheimer's at a 37 per cent higher rate than average."<ref>http://www.cbc.ca/strombo/news/the-average-life-expectancy-of-an-nfl-player-is-55-years.html</ref>  Some have compared watching NFL games to what the Romans did in watching the brutal gladiator fights, which is widely recognized to have been immoral and harmful to the society.<ref>The NFL exaggerates its audience sometimes.  For example, the NFL exaggerated ratings for its internet streaming, initially claiming that “33.6 million” watched a worldwide live stream of a Bills-Jaguars game in late October 2015, and then downgrading that estimate to less than half, or 15.2 million, which is still probably an exaggeration. [http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/10/27/nfl-exaggerated-sundays-bills-jags-internet-numbers/]</ref>

There is also a growing concern that watching or supporting the NFL may be immoral, in light of a study revealing that 96% of deceased NFL players test positive for [[chronic traumatic encephalopathy]], or CTE.<ref>http://www.forbes.com/sites/dandiamond/2015/09/18/96-of-surveyed-nfl-players-test-positive-for-brain-disease/</ref>  Other studies suggest that the "average life expectancy of a retired NFL player is 55 years," and that "retired NFL players suffer from Alzheimer's at a 37 per cent higher rate than average."<ref>http://www.cbc.ca/strombo/news/the-average-life-expectancy-of-an-nfl-player-is-55-years.html</ref>  Some have compared watching NFL games to what the Romans did in watching the brutal gladiator fights, which is widely recognized to have been immoral and harmful to the society.<ref>The NFL exaggerates its audience sometimes.  For example, the NFL exaggerated ratings for its internet streaming, initially claiming that “33.6 million” watched a worldwide live stream of a Bills-Jaguars game in late October 2015, and then downgrading that estimate to less than half, or 15.2 million, which is still probably an exaggeration. [http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/10/27/nfl-exaggerated-sundays-bills-jags-internet-numbers/]</ref>

== Exclusion of Tim Tebow ==

== Exclusion of Tim Tebow ==

== Premature Death ==

== Premature Death ==

Quincy Monk, a former linebacker for the New York Giants, had a stroke at the age of only 35<ref>http://www.wral.com/former-athlete-survives-stroke-with-help-of-medical-device/14789103/</ref> and then died a year later from cancer.<ref>http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2015/11/former_giants_linebacker_quincy_monk_dead_at_36.html</ref>

Quincy Monk, a former linebacker for the New York Giants, had a stroke at the age of only 35<ref>http://www.wral.com/former-athlete-survives-stroke-with-help-of-medical-device/14789103/</ref> and then died a year later from cancer.<ref>http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2015/11/former_giants_linebacker_quincy_monk_dead_at_36.html</ref>

At least one expert has opined that problem is never going away.<ref>http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/nfl-performance-enhancing-drug-testing-will-get-tougher-ped-testing-tougher-alex-marvez-062515</ref>

At least one expert has opined that problem is never going away.<ref>http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/nfl-performance-enhancing-drug-testing-will-get-tougher-ped-testing-tougher-alex-marvez-062515</ref>

The NFL testing for substance abuse is notoriously inadequate, as illustrated by the case of the convicted first-degree murderer, then-NFL star Aaron Hernandez.<ref>http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/04/05/aaron-hernandez-knew-that-beating-nfl-drug-tests-is-easy/</ref>

The NFL banned substances policy has drawn criticism,<ref name="CBS">{{cite web|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/04/27/national/main691147_page3.shtml  |work=CBS News |title=NFL Steroid Policy 'Not Perfect' |date=2005-04-27}}</ref> but the policy is one of the longest running in professional sports, beginning in 1987.<ref name="Apr28">{{cite news| url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A21734-2005Apr28.html  |newspaper=The Washington Post |title=NFL's Steroid Policy Gets Kudos on Capitol Hill |first1=Mark |last1=Maske |first2=Leonard |last2=Shapiro |date=2005-04-28 |accessdate=2017-01-05}}</ref> Since the NFL started random, year-round tests and suspending players for banned substances, many more players have been found to be in violation of the policy. By April 2005, 111 NFL players had tested positive for banned substances, and of those 111, the NFL suspended 54.<ref name="CBS" /> The NFL testing for substance abuse is notoriously inadequate, as illustrated by the case of the convicted first-degree murderer, then-NFL star Aaron Hernandez.<ref>http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/04/05/aaron-hernandez-knew-that-beating-nfl-drug-tests-is-easy/</ref>

== Harmful effects on cities and taxpayers ==

== Harmful effects on cities and taxpayers ==