'I'll take my fine': Tennessee Titans defensive end Jurrell Casey vows to continue national anthem protest in the upcoming NFL season despite new rules and pressure from Trump
- The 28-year-old said he would continue raising a fist during the national anthem
- NFL owners have enacted a policy requiring players to stand while it is played
- Donald Trump has said players who protest during the anthem should be fired
Tennessee Titans defensive end Jurrell Casey says he will continue to raise a fist during the national anthem next season to protest against social injustice, saying he will 'take my fine'.
The 28-year-old, who has played seven seasons with the Titans, said at an NFL promotional event in London that he will carry on the protest during the pre-match anthem despite the new rules and pressure applied by President Donald Trump.
He told CNN: '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.'
In May, NFL owners instituted a new anthem policy requiring all players and league personnel on the sidelines to stand for the anthem. Anyone who does not wish to stand will have the option to stay in the locker room.
Tennessee Titans defensive end Jurrell Casey (pictured) says he will continue to protest social injustice on the NFL sidelines during US national anthems next season
The change gives each club the ability to set a policy to ensure on-field respect of the anthem and if a player protests on the sideline, the NFL will fine the team. Teams would have the power to fine players under the new policy.
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.'
He said he was prepared for criticism after President Donald Trump slammed players who took part in kneeling protests during past two seasons, saying team owners should fire protesters.
'I don't pay no mind to it,' he said. 'I'm going to do what I do that's going to bring light to my community... I will continue to use my platform to keep on speaking up.'
The protest was started by former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick in 2016 to protest social injustice and racial inequality in response to police shootings of unarmed African-Americans.
But Trump has said the move insults the flag, the nation and soldiers.
Casey said: 'It's not necessarily about the anthem. That's where everybody's messing up. The way the justice system treats minorities is the issue that we have.'
Jurrell Casey (number 99) raises his fist during the anthem before an NFL game in 2016
The national anthem protests were started by Colin Kaepernick (centre), then of the San Francisco 49ers, who took a knee during the national anthem
NFL owners approved the new rule in May to try and end the uproar but the NFL Players Association has filed a grievance against the move and talks are expected ahead of next month's pre-season openers.
'Around the NFL, guys are definitely not happy about it,' Casey said about the NFL's new policy. '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 have done.'
The union contends the kneeling protest does not constitute 'conduct detrimental' to the NFL, allowing NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to impose the policy, which the union says is 'inconsistent with the collective bargaining agreement and infringes on player rights.'
The Titans had no comment on Casey's comments, according to a posting on the NFL website.
The Titans begin pre-season workouts on July 26 ahead of their first pre-season game on August 9 at Green Bay.
Tennessee opens the season on September 9 at Miami and will face the Los Angeles Chargers on October 21 at Wembley Stadium.
Most watched News videos
- Mystery woman stands naked on top of police car in Spain
- Homeless people take over the subway cars in NY despite CDC warning
- Clip from Ipswich purports to show elusive 'Fen Tiger'
- Onlookers hurl abuse as TWELVE police officers fine two men
- Armed police ram into car and arrest two suspects outside co-op
- Simone Biles takes off her sweatpants in handstand challenge
- Chris Tarrant shocks viewers with thoughts on coronavirus
- Covidiot goads police as he flees on a motorbike during lockdown
- Woman in Birmingham detained by five men during brawl in shop
- Thug caught on CCTV mugging elderly pensioner outside corner store
- WHO says it is still learning about the intricacies of COVID-19
- Police allow street party to take place during coronavirus lockdown