BEREA, Ohio _ Browns rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer didn't know Monday whether he would start this weekend in London, but he was certain he would not become a distraction again.
On Sunday, TV station WOIO (Channel 19) aired video from social media of Kizer at a downtown Cleveland bar past 1 a.m. Saturday. After Kizer was benched in the third quarter of Sunday's 12-9 overtime loss to the Tennessee Titans because he threw two interceptions, the second-round draft pick said his late night out didn't show a lack of commitment.
Kizer didn't break any team rules, because players didn't have a curfew Friday night and weren't required to report for practice until mid-afternoon Saturday. But coach Hue Jackson and wide receiver Ricardo Louis made it clear Sunday they weren't thrilled with his decision. And after a conversation with Jackson, Kizer realized it was a bad look.
"Being a leader is making sure you understand that distractions in any fashion aren't good for an ultimate goal, and when you become the centerpiece of a distraction for a week, it definitely is very frustrating," he said. "That's not who I am. My mother wouldn't be proud."
News of the video bothered Jackson after Sunday's game, but his blood wasn't boiling Monday.
"I had a conversation [with Kizer], and I feel comfortable," Jackson said.
Jackson said Kizer's taste of the nightlife won't be a factor when he decides whether to start him, Cody Kessler or Kevin Hogan on Sunday in England. Jackson plans to announce his decision Wednesday. He sounded like he was leaning toward Kessler when he rationalized the second-year player's fourth-quarter interception but reiterated "everything is on the table."
What concerns Jackson more than Kizer staying out late is his NFL-high 11 interceptions.
"We can't turn the football over," Jackson said. "That is going to be my battle cry.
"I truly believe DeShone is going to grow out of a lot of this. But that takes time and work."
Jackson is under the impression Kizer, 21, was among a group of players who went out to dinner Friday night and that some of them stayed out late into Saturday morning. The coach said he didn't see any harm in that but thought the video gained traction because the Browns are 0-7. He also thought it was a good lesson for Kizer.
"My discussion with DeShone was, 'You have to be careful,'?" Jackson said. "I think decisions you make can affect you, and people can see things the wrong way."
Kizer gets the point.
"I've learned that this is distraction," he said. "We're sitting here and talking about this and teammates are coming up to me and asking me about this."
Kizer also understands Browns fans are traumatized by Johnny Manziel partying himself out of the NFL a few years ago, so the sight of a quarterback at a bar two nights before a game doesn't sit well with some.
"This organization, this fan base, this city wants to win," he said, "and anything that's not heading towards winning is going to be recognized."
Earlier this season, Kizer insisted he showed up to work every day about 5 a.m. and spent so much time studying game film and Jackson's playbook that he wasn't able to watch full Indians games or Netflix episodes.
"It's rare for me to be out at that hour," he said. "I felt as if my preparation that week was going as planned. I felt very prepared for the game. It didn't really alter me from my typical process. Unfortunately it becomes a distraction, and that's exactly what I didn't want."
Kizer should know how to handle the spotlight after starting at Notre Dame.
"It's frustrating that I was able to get through college without anything like that, but now I step in here as a rookie in the NFL and create another distraction," he said.
Kizer would much rather be known for inviting two Browns receivers to his hometown of Toledo during the off day last week to bond with them or calling a players-only meeting for the offense the way he did this past Friday and like he plans to do in the future. He said he hopes to show Jackson he'll "continue to be the same guy I've always been, continue to be the first guy in the facility, the last guy out, have the same work ethic."
