“If they want to have these battles between players and organizations, this is the way it’s going to be.”
Grant Halverson/Getty Images
Tennessee Titans defensive end Jurrell Casey announced Wednesday that he will protest at his football games during the national anthem, even though the NFL recently banned players from doing so.
The NFL announced the new policy in May following the controversy around players kneeling during the national anthem.
In a statement, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said, “This season, all league and team personnel shall stand and show respect for the flag and the anthem. Personnel who choose not to stand for the anthem may stay in the locker room until after the anthem has been performed.”
As reported by CNN, Casey is the most prominent player to declare that he will protest next season.
“I’m going to take my fine,” Casey told CNN. “It is what it is, I ain’t going to let them stop me from doing what I want to do. If they want to have these battles between players and organizations, this is the way it’s going to be.”
Last year Casey did not kneel during the anthem — instead, he held up a fist. It is unclear whether Casey will continue the same gesture or do something else. “I’m going to protest during the flag. That’s what I’m going to say now,” he said.
The NFL protests started when then 49ers quarterback Colin Kapernick began kneeling during the Star-Spangeled Banner to protest racial inequality. Some of his teammates and other players joined in, sparking a national debate.
President Donald Trump weighed in on Twitter last year, criticizing players and the league for the kneeling.
The issue of kneeling has nothing to do with race. It is about respect for our Country, Flag and National Anthem. NFL must respect this!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 25,2017
Sports fans should never condone players that do not stand proud for their National Anthem or their Country. NFL should change policy!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 24,2017
With NFL preseason beginning in three weeks, the football league will soon see if their ban will actually deter players from protesting or not. According to Casey, many players aren’t pleased with the new rule.
“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.”
