NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Titans defensive lineman Jurrell Casey knows what he wants for Christmas.
"What am I looking for?,'' Casey said on Thursday. "I am looking for a chance to end up in the Pro Bowl this year. I have everything else I want. I think that's probably the biggest gift I could get."
Earlier this week, Casey was named a first alternate to the Pro Bowl. It marked the third year in a row Casey wasn't initially voted to the team.
In previous years, he turned down a chance to go as an alternate. He said he'll go this season if one of the six defensive tackles pulls out, which is a strong possibility. But Casey admits he was disappointed he didn't make the team in the voting of fans, players and coaches.
Carolina's Kawann Short, Tampa Bay's Gerald McCoy, Philadelphia's Fletcher Cox, Arizona's Calais Campbell, Cincinnati's Geno Atkins and Aaron Donald of the Rams were the six tight ends who made the team ahead of Casey, who is tied for the team lead with seven sacks on the season, and he leads the team with 24 quarterback pressures.
"Same story, different year,'' Casey. "But I think it would be great this year to go out there and represent the team."
Casey, in his fifth NFL season, ranked third among AFC defensive tackles with 28 sacks since entering the league in 2011.
"All the players that made it, they are all great players. I respect the all,'' Casey said. "I always feel like I am the best in the league, but at the end of the day they all earned their right to get their and I'm proud of every one of them.
"But it's time for me to get my spot."
