Casey said that his actions will be a continuation from his protests last year, where he raised a fistGETTY IMAGES
Titans DT Jurrell Casey said that he will "remain on the field and protest" during the national anthem, while "accepting any fines levied on him this season," according to Motez Bishara of CNN.com. Casey said, "I'm going to take a fine this year, why not? I'm going to protest during the flag. That's what I'm going to say now." Casey is the "most prominent player so far to state his intention to flout the new NFL rules which dictate that players must either 'stand and show respect for the flag and the anthem' or remain out of public view in the locker room." Casey said, "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." Casey noted that his actions will be a "continuation from his protests last year, where he raised a fist after the anthem was played and 'wanted to be respectful.'" Casey said that he had "not spoken" to coach Mike Vrabel or his teammates about the decision, but was "certain other players would follow suit in their own ways." Casey: "Around the NFL, guys are definitely not happy about it. 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." Casey added, "I'm going to do what I do that's going to bring light to my community. At the end of the day we got to do a job. But I will continue to use my platform to keep on speaking up" (CNN.com, 7/18).
IT'S ABOUT RESPECT: NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, on the league's new anthem policy, said there were "a lot of questions" just about raising a fist, as several players have done. Rapoport: "Casey is another doing it after the anthem. Does that mean a player is being disrespectful actually to the anthem? The reality is, we do not know the definitive answer to that right now." Rapoport said of the Titans, "They really respect how passionate (Casey) is about the issues, how well he does in the community in Southern California and Nashville as well. They want to be respectful, but they also do really believe in Casey" ("NFL Total Access," NFL Network, 7/18).
MORE PRESSING MATTERS: The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER's Marc Malkin noted after the NFL "enacted a policy to penalize teams" with players that protest during the anthem, Giants Chair & Exec VP Steve Tisch said that he "hopes fans have heard the last" from President Trump on the controversy. Tisch said, "Hopefully he'll have much more going on that he's going [to] have to deal with and should deal with and must deal with than worrying about what NFL players do. He has no understanding of why they take a knee or why they're protesting. When the new season starts, I hope his priorities are not criticizing the NFL and telling owners what to do and what not to do." NFL owners will have the "option to fine their players if they kneel." Tisch said, "We support our players. They are not going to be punished. There is not going to be any punitive action taking place against them" (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 7/18).
