If you've read the first seven parts of this series, you're already familiar with the drastic transformation of the sport from its roots. This game has not been only transformed by rule and strategy; it has also left its mark on the fabric of everyday American life. Nowhere is that more apparent then at the professional level, a business where billions of dollars are made each year. Athletes earning eight digit salaries, kids spending hundreds of dollars on the jerseys of their favorite players, billions of dollars wagered on the NFL games. All that has had a big impact on our country's economy. Let's look at how the game turned from strictly amateur to the powerful professional game of today.

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