This NFL player made a threat that left patriotic football fans fuming
NFL players are reporting back to training camp this week for the new season.
The story of last season was many players’ choice to kneel during the national anthem – a move that cost the league dearly in ratings and ad revenue.
Now one pro bowl player made a threat that will leave patriotic football fans fuming.
Earlier this year the NFL made a rule that if players knelt during the national anthem teams would face fines.
Tennessee Titans defensive end Jurrell Casey had some choice words about the new policy. In an interview with CNN, Casey said:
“I’m gonna take a fine this year. Why not? I’m gonna protest during the flag. That’s what I’m gonna say now.
“I’m gonna take my fine. So it is what it is. I’m not going to let that stop me from doing what I want to do.”
After the interview dropped, Titans team president Steve Underwood said he would meet with Casey to discuss the rule.
ESPN reports:
The Titans are not upset with Casey and don’t plan to reprimand him, but they have not talked with him yet and want to get a full briefing of his thoughts on the matter.
The NFL’s new anthem policy puts teams in danger of being fined if a player does not “show respect” for the anthem, which includes an attempt to kneel or sit during the anthem. Those teams can fine players for their actions, if they choose, but it does not seem likely the Titans would go that route.
The new anthem policy, passed by owners in May, says players “must stand and show respect for the flag and anthem” or remain in the locker room.
The Titans owner is capitulating to his players’ unpatriotic demands despite a clear message from fans that they want players to respect the national anthem.
But fans cheered the Miami Dolphins when they instituted a team rule saying players who protested on the field during the national anthem could be suspended for up to four games.
The Dolphins didn’t want to get fined by the league for the disrespectful actions of its players and management wanted to show their fans they were serious about stopping the anthem protests.
But the NFL responded to the Dolphins by rescinding the initial rule forcing players to show respect or face fines.
The NFL continues to come down on the wrong side of this issue.
