Titans star won’t let a fine deter anthem protest
At least one NFL player is not going to be stopped by the threat of a fine.
Titans defensive end Jurrell Casey, who raised his fist during the national anthem last season, said he will continue to do so despite the NFL’s new policy that will fine teams whose players do not “stand and show respect for the flag and the anthem” on the field.
“I’m going to take a fine this year. Why not?” Casey told CNN on Wednesday at an NFL promotional event in London. “I’m going to protest during the flag. That’s what I’m going to say now.”
No Titans have knelt during the anthem, but some have raised a fist with Casey, who said he “wanted to be respectful.” It is not clear how raised fists will be dealt with.
Under the new policy, which has drawn the ire of both sides of the controversy, players also have the option to stay in the locker room during the anthem. Teams will be fined, but it is up to each individual organization as how to levy potential punishment for players.
“It is what it is, I ain’t going to let them stop me from doing what I want to do,” said Casey, who signed a four-year, $60.4 million extension in 2017. “If they want to have these battles between players and organiza- tions, this is the way it’s going to be.”
The demonstrations, started by 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and safety Eric Reid (both currently without jobs), were aimed at protesting social and racial injustices across the country.
“It’s not necessarily about the anthem, that’s where everybody’s messing up,” Casey said. “The way that the justice system treats minorities is the issue that we have.”
Casey, a three-time Pro Bowler entering his ninth season in the NFL, said he had not talked to first-year head coach Mike Vrabel or his teammates about the issue, but believes he won’t be the only one protesting.
“Around the NFL, guys are definitely not happy about it,” he said. “I feel it’s not right, I don’t think it was a good decision for the NFL to come up with that ruling. But they have their reasons for what they’ve done.”