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Kizer acknowledges bar video was a 'distraction'

Ken Blaze / USA TODAY Sports

Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer acknowledges that his presence at a bar early on Saturday morning caused a problem for a team that already has enough of them.

Before the Browns fell to 0-7 on Sunday, Kizer was spotted at a downtown Cleveland bar at around 1 a.m. on Saturday morning. Video showing him there was broadcast on a local news station. Head coach Hue Jackson said he didn't want his players to be out that late, but didn't begrudge them having a social life, and Kizer addressed the situation Monday.

"When you become the centerpiece of a distraction for a week, it definitely is very frustrating on my part," Kizer said, according to ESPN's Pat McManamon. "That is not who I am. My mother wouldn't be proud of this.

"That is pretty much the biggest takeaway is do whatever you can to make sure that you are not a distraction."

Kizer was reportedly spotted with linebacker Christian Kirksey, receivers Kenny Britt and Corey Coleman, and Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt and tight end Travis Kelce, who are both Cleveland natives. Britt and Coleman were sent home from the team's trip to Houston in Week 6 after missing curfew the day before their game.

While Jackson did not and will not discipline Kizer or the other players, he did warn that any time a player goes out in public, they're being watched. Kizer seems to have gotten the message after this weekend.

"With that, it is on me to make sure that from here that from here on out, I am not a distraction and I am only an asset to this team, not a guy that is pulling away from the ultimate goal," said Kizer.

The rookie passer was pulled from Sunday's loss in the third quarter after throwing a pair of interceptions.

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