The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Now players are betraying Jackson’s trust
Browns coach Hue Jackson is losing more than games in this disastrous season. Now his players are betraying his faith and trust. Coaches get fired when they lose games and control.
Rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer and several Browns teammates were spotted at a Cleveland bar at 1:30 a.m. Saturday, 92.3TheFan is reporting. Wide receivers Kenny Britt and Corey Coleman plus linebacker Christian Kirksey were also in the group, according to the report.
A Snapchat video, no longer available for viewing, reportedly captured the event.
Kizer and his teammates broke no laws and broke no team rules. But it does not look good for him to be out 36 hours before kickoff in his first start after being benched for a week. It looks bad because the Browns are 0-7 this season, 1-22 under Jackson and 4-40 since beating the Falcons, 26-24, on Nov. 23, 2014, and it doesn’t matter that Kizer’s fingerprints are only on this season.
It looks especially bad after Kizer was benched again after throwing two interceptions against the Titans. One was picked at the Titans’ 7 near the end of the first half. The next came on his second pass of the third quarter. He completed 12 of 20 passes for 114 yards and had a 36.2 passer rating.
Kizer was grilled in his post-game interview about partying and twice answered: “I’m not here to talk about my personal life.”
Asked again whether the video and being at the bar shows a lack of commitment, Kizer answered:
“Absolutely not. I was out. I was at the facility the next day, preparing for the game and the game right before that. Once again, I am not here to talk about my personal life.”
Earlier in the season, Kizer told reporters he is in bed by 9 p.m. and at the Browns facility by 5 a.m.
Kenny Britt seems to be at the center of much that’s wrong with the Browns. On top of that, he’s a lousy receiver.
This team is such a mess that Jackson is at a loss to name a starting quarterback for the game against the Vikings on London on Oct. 29.
“Everything right now is on the table,” Jackson said. “How can it not be? I just think I have to. I just think that it’s only right and only fair. That opens up all kinds of questions. I get all that. I’m not worried about that.”
On top of everything else, Joe Thomas had to leave the game with a triceps injury. After 10plus seasons of a healthy Thomas at left tackle, now Jackson has to worry about that, too.
Jackson said he was unaware of the Kizer incident until informed of
it in his post-game news conference. He seemed like a betrayed parent.
“It means a lot to me,” Jackson said. “A guy’s personal time is his personal time, but I still think that isn’t what our guys do. I think our guys work at what they do, and I would be surprised if that happened. I have never heard of that. I don’t think DeShone has that kind of character or personality that way. That’s what it is.
“It’s not a curfew, but that‘s the first I have heard of it. I appreciate you guys sharing that with me. Thank you.”
Last week in Houston, Britt and Coleman were sent home early on gameday (Oct. 15) for missing curfew the night before. That story broke on NFL. com on Oct. 20.
“I think Kenny and Corey both understand where we are with both of them,” said Jackson. “We sent them home. We made that decision. They have been fined. We have dealt with it in-house that way. I think both of these players know that they
have to continue to do the right thing. If not, we will see what the next consequence is.”
Britt seems to be at the center of much that’s wrong with the Browns. On top of that, he’s a lousy receiver.
Britt dropped a low pass in overtime in Tennessee territory then stayed on the ground as though he were injured. Fans booed when he stood.
Jackson should not have to be a babysitter. Being the head coach of a clueless, directionless, talentless football team is impossible enough.
Jackson fined Britt and sent him home for what happened in Houston. That should have sent a message to his team. The next step is to Britt. It’s already too late to save the season and it might be too late to save his job, but he would be doing the next Browns’ coach a favor.