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Jurrell Casey will continue protest during national anthem

By Thomas Wheaton

NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 31: Jurrell Casey #99 of the Tennessee Titans is blocked by Brandon Linder #65 of the Jacksonville Jaguars at Nissan Stadium on December 31, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans defeated the Jaguars 15-10. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 31: Jurrell Casey #99 of the Tennessee Titans is blocked by Brandon Linder #65 of the Jacksonville Jaguars at Nissan Stadium on December 31, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans defeated the Jaguars 15-10. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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Last season, the NFL had a huge point of contention regarding the anthem protests. In an attempt to cease them, the league issued some new rules. However, it doesn’t appear that it is going to stop everyone from protesting.

Tennessee Titans Pro Bowl defensive linemen Jurrell Casey announced he will still be protesting during the national anthem in 2018. While at a promotional event in London (where the NFL will play three games this season) Casey told reporters “I’m going to take a fine this year, why not?”

The NFL levied a new rule that states if players do not want to stand for the flag, they are instructed to stay in the locker room. Each team is responsible for enforcing these rules on an individual basis. The punishment for allowing players to protest? An undisclosed fine (shocking).

New York Jets owner Woody Johnson has already proclaimed he will pay any fine his players receive for protesting. While the Titans owner hasn’t made the same pledge, Casey seems set on keeping his right to protest the injustice in America.

Casey believes that this new rule has not gone over well across the league and that many players are unhappy about it. He thinks people fail to realize that they aren’t protesting the flag or the anthem, they are protesting inequality in America.

Unfortunately, this seems like an issue that will not find a resolution any time soon. Perhaps the NFL will have to find a different way to handle the protests if they persist. For now, Casey is the biggest name to say he will continue protesting. Coming off of three consecutive Pro Bowls, the 28-year-old star has the spotlight on him now.

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It is only a matter of time before other players around the league join Casey. Maybe he was just the person that needed to start it all off. Only time will tell.