Titans' Jurrell Casey on National Anthem Protests: 'I'm Going to Take my Fine'

Titans defensive lineman Jurrell Casey plans to protest during the national anthem and pay the necessary fine.

Titans defensive lineman Jurrell Casey plans to protest during the national anthem and pay a fine, he told CNN in an interview in London on Wednesday.

"I'm going to take my fine," 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."

NFL owners voted on a new national anthem policy in May, and there have been talks that some players are considering different ways to protest.  

The new policy removes a requirement for players to be on the field for the anthem, and gives players the option to stay in the locker room. Teams will be fined for any personnel that "do not show proper respect for the flag and Anthem” on the sidelines.

Casey is a three-time Pro Bowler who is entering his eighth season in the league. He signed a four-year, $60.4 million extension last year. 

The protests during the national anthem started in August 2016 when former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick refused to stand for the 'Star-Spangled Banner' as a means of protesting racial inequality and police brutality. Dozens other NFL players, as well as numerous other athletes across America, ultimately joined him. The protests grew during the 2017 season after Trump criticized NFL players who chose to follow suit. Trump said owners should "fire" NFL players who protest the anthem and referred to them as "son[s] of b------". Players responded by protesting en masse.

Kaepernick hasn't played since the 2016 season, and Casey doesn't think the situation is fair. 

"For all these trash quarterbacks you see that get a shot, that come in and sit on the bench all day, you got a starting quarterback that's out there that can go out there and play," he said.

"You know he has the skill set to be a starting quarterback, and you hold him out just because he is speaking his mind. At the end of the day it speaks (volumes) on what these people really think about you."