In ancient years, gladiators fought to the death in front of hundreds of screaming fans in a huge coliseum. However, in the modern era, instead of gladiators battling it out in a coliseum, we have football. Tackle, kick and score touchdowns in front of thousands of fans in coliseum-shaped stadiums. The highest level of football, the National Football League, averages more than 19 million viewers per week and is consistently the most-watched broadcast of the week. The biggest football game of the year, known as the Super Bowl, was watched by 108 million people last year (NFL 2012 TV Recap). There is, however, a dark side to football that has started to gain momentum over the past decade. Football players are susceptible to concussions. Other sports like boxing and hockey have taken precautionary measures to address the problem of concussions, but it nevertheless remains widespread and a major problem in football. It has become such an issue that there are rumors that football may be on its way out as Mike Freeman says: "All these things will probably be discussed, and perhaps argued, in what could be a nightmare for the NFL. Or even the end of the world. ”(Freeman “The NFL is not here”). The concussion problem will not go away unless changes are made. The best way to correct these problems is to address them on two fronts: at the youth and professional levels. Your brain is a delicate thing and needs to be protected. “The brain is surrounded by fluid in the skull. This prevents the chemical balance from being altered by brain trauma” (About Concussions). When a concussion occurs, there is a momentary change in brain function due to distress. The brain undergoes a sudden change in the person's skull that causes it to go...... middle of paper ...... program teaches children the correct way to play. TwinCities. , Dennis “Concussions and College Football: The Game Must Change – or Perish.” CBSSports, August 22, 2013. Web. December 7, 2013. “Ten Ways to Solve the Growing Concussion Crisis.” NFL » CBSSports. May 10, 2012. Web. December 7, 2013. Schwarz, Alan. “Teaching Young Players a Safer Way to Tackle.” Rivera, Angel Gustavo Hit: NCAA Concussion Policy Is a Nightmare for Student-Athletes » University of Houston Law Center. Np, March 2013. Web. December 7, 2013. Bradley, Bill. "2013 NFL Protocol for Players Suffering Concussions." NFL. Np, October 1, 2013. Web December 10.. 2013.