CNN is reporting that Tennessee Titans star DT Jurrell Casey will protest during the national anthem during the upcoming NFL season, and everybody is in a lather over it, Understandably so, though. After all, though the National Football League claims it a consensus among all 30 teams, there has been evidence to the contrary almost from the start. This includes an abstained vote from San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York, as well as an assurance from New York Jets co-owner Christopher Johnson that he’d pay any fines incurred by players who protest.
Check Tennessee controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk has said that she accepts the players’ rights to remain in the locker room.
“I’m going to take a fine this year, why not?” said Casey at an NFL promotional event in London. “I’m going to protest during the flag. That’s what I’m going to say now.”
CNN on Twitter
Tennessee Titans star defensive end Jurrell Casey says he’ll protest during the national anthem and accept any fines levied against him this upcoming NFL season. “I’m going to take a fine this year, why not?” he said. “I’m going to protest during the flag” https://t.co/8eoiwaAW8F https://t.co/7h6eYSn0AS
The three-time Pro Bowl selection is the most prominent athlete to say he’ll protest during the upcoming season. Though you wouldn’t know it from the way these billionaire owners are quaking at the thought of widespread anthem protest this season, ironically during a presidential administration in which it is as apropos as it has ever been, the numbers say the NFL is still the ratings heavyweight champion of television.
Last year seven of the ten most viewed broadcasts were from, you guessed it, the NFL. The Super Bowl, which drew 111.3 million viewers. The new rules 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.
Trump “Dis-invites” Eagles From Their Planned White House Visit
The Philadelphia Eagles, even after winning their first Super Bowl, continue to make history as the first NFL team to ever be dis-invited from a White House visit. The Golden State Warriors were also “dis-invited” after winning last year’s NBA title, when the players made it clear that they had no intention of visiting with Donald Trump.
The historical record will reflect that Colin Kaepernickwas indeed effectively banned from the National Football League, but its clear from Casey’s proclamation that his example has inspired others to continue.
Also historic record, President Donald J. Trump took it as a personal affront that there were NFL players refusing to stand for the anthem.Team owners panicked and haven’t stopped. This new rule is indicative of that.
In one of the strangest NFL-related incidents I’d ever seen in my life, Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shahid Khan locked arms with his players before a game at London’s Wembley Stadium, while Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones knelt with his entire team before the playing of the national anthem last September. But all that was really just a middle finger to Trump, in my opinion.
Trump Comments Inadvertently Galvanize NFL Toward Protest, Resistance
Just when you think you’ve seen it all, you wake up to find the President of the United States is attacking entire swaths of private citizens due to their refusal to relinquish the rights granted to them as American citizens in the Constitution of the United States.
The tide changed a month later as Jerry Jones started boohooing about the league “suffering negative effects from these protests,” and doubled down by threatening to bench any player who took a knee. Meanwhile, the Dallas Cowboys are renowned for their players’ off the field indiscretions, including drug abuse and domestic violence. But Kaep can’t no job, huh?
NFL fines will be billed to teams, who have it in their discretion to enforce pre-game anthem observation as they see fit. The NFL did not specify the amount of the fines, and left open the option of fining players directly by imposing “appropriate discipline on league personnel who do not stand and show respect for the flag and the anthem.”
Donald Trump Attacks Sports In 2017
Donald Trump came into office swinging and attacking any person, place or organization that did not succumb to his new dictatorial and oppressive regime. Athletes vs Trump In addition to his constant attacks on various news outlets, labeling them as “fake news”, Trump had some classic Twitter wars with some high profile individuals of color.
“I’m going to take my fine,” Casey added. “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.” The veteran going into his eighth NFL season with the Titans 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.”
The 28-year-old signed a $60.4 million, four-year extension with the Titans in 2017, including $40 million of it guaranteed, according to the NFL. “It’s not necessarily about the anthem, that’s where everybody’s messing up,” he said. “The way that the justice system treats minorities is the issue that we have.”
