Sunday is finally here and people across the country are getting ready to watch football. These passionate fans cheer for and against one of the thirty-two football teams that are part of the NFL, or National Football League. This group is made up of various components including the players who compete for an audience, the coaches who rule their every move, the referees who make the final calls, and the elite people who own the teams. All of these groups act as mechanisms that drive the machine that is the NFL. This business is full of pride, excitement and competition, but there are many problems surrounding this sport. Hidden in the shadows of stadium lights and television screens exist conflicts, rebellions and inequalities. The NFL's greatest contribution and complication revolves around its cultural foundation and structure. Theorists explain that “inequalities exist within a culture's value system. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Therefore, a society's cultural norms benefit some people but harm others” (OpenStax 67). The National Football League revolves around culture which can be described as “shared beliefs, values, and practices, which participants must learn” (OpenStax 52). Beliefs vary, because not everyone shares the same beliefs. The official mission of the NFL states: “we bring people together and inspire communities in the joy of the game by providing the most exciting sports and entertainment experience in the world” (NFL). The NFL attempts to unite people in ways such as producing physical equipment that establishes symbolic value within society. Material culture “refers to the objects or possessions of a group of people” while immaterial culture “consists of the ideas, attitudes, and beliefs of a society” (OpenStax 53). An example of this would be a fan wearing the jersey of his favorite team. Society members are able to determine what that person's values ​​are by viewing the colors or symbols on their shirt. All sports, including football, require rules or regulations to ensure fairness and equality during participation or performance. While some rules are formal and can be enforced, others are classified as informal or “casual behaviors that are generally and widely conformed to” (OpenStax 58). An example of an informal rule would be for players to stand during the national anthem. It is an unspoken expectation that athletes and fans honor the country, so kneeling is a violation of an informal norm. The NFL has strategically created not only teams, but also a strong culture. By incorporating symbolism into sport, this activity has been able to influence society's beliefs, values ​​and practices by establishing norms. Karl Marx's conflict theory “viewed society as composed of individuals of different social classes who must compete for social, material, and political resources such as food and shelter, work, education, and leisure” (OpenStax 16). A perfect demonstration of this theory is the business of the NFL and all its affiliates. After signing a contract with the NFL, players often receive financial security and the elite status of a professional athlete. To make a living or overcome poverty, some athletes dedicate their entire lives to earning an NFL contract. By obtaining employment, athletes have access to resources such as food, housing and free time. This level of security contributes to the problems associated with athletes hiding sports-related concussionssport. When they suffer an injury, players are usually unable to play and suffer a reduction in pay. The risk of losing what they have worked so hard for affects how they care for themselves. Jones Drew said, “The bottom line is: You have to be able to put food on the table. No one is going to sign or want a guy who can't stay healthy. I know there will be a day when I will have trouble walking” (Some NFL). This player is aware and foresees the decline of his health, but his priority is performance. While players who stay in the game can increase the team's chances of winning, the injured or concussed player ultimately pays the price. Justin Smith of the 49ers says, "And most of the guys, 99% of the guys in the NFL, are going to play" (Some NFL). Members of the NFL such as coaches or players may encourage athletes to mask their injuries for the sake of others instead of putting their own lives first. There has been a broad movement to improve the safety and well-being of young athletes who may one day join the NFL. They state that “Heads Up Football is designed to change the culture of America's favorite sport and improve player safety” (NFL Foundation). One might wonder whether the NFL is truly concerned about the health of young athletes or whether they are preparing their potential future investments. This social conflict directly contradicts the mission and core values ​​of the National Football League. One might conclude that the NFL puts revenue and entertainment before the safety of its employees. Some athletes will sacrifice everything, including their bodies, to ensure they can acquire all the resources needed to survive. While the NFL has formal and informal rules, its employees and affiliates continue to follow and break them. The different levels of conformity are explained by Robert Merton's strain theory “which finds that access to socially acceptable goals plays a role in determining whether a person conforms or deviates” (OpenStax 139). Athletes drafted into the NFL typically follow the rules and regulations presented to them; this is an example of compliance. The NFL is also made up of innovators or people who use different means to achieve goals such as deviant or criminal acts. This part of the strain theory can include athletes violating drug policy by taking enhancement drugs. NFL athletes can sometimes embody a ritual, as they adjust and lower their goals in hopes of achieving a desired outcome. If the opposing team faces a superior team, they can take part in the ritual. This way they reduce their expectations of winning and sometimes manage to achieve better results. It is not uncommon for athletes to participate in retirement, as their goals may have changed in such a way that they reject what society deems acceptable. For example, athletes may set the bar so low that they take their own lives. Nicki Karimipour explains that “from 2000 to 2012 there were nearly a dozen suicides by current or retired NFL athletes” (Suicide). The final component of tension theory includes rebellion which is easily identifiable. Regardless of belief or intention, athletes who kneel during the national anthem demonstrate rebellion by refusing to stand, which is socially acceptable behavior. The NFL expects its members to conduct themselves in a professional and industry-representative manner, but there are daily demonstrations of all five components of the strain theory involving conformity and deviance. Please note: this is just an example..