DILLON Gabriel made his first NFL start on Sunday for the Cleveland Browns.
But the rookie quarterback’s dad wasn’t allowed to watch him play.
Dillon Gabriel made his first NFL start on Sunday in London[/caption]
Gabriel threw two touchdown passes in the game against Minnesota[/caption]
Gabriel started for the Browns against the Minnesota Vikings at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The third round NFL Draft pick officially took over the job from Joe Flacco, 40, before the team boarded a flight to London.
Gabriel, 24, spoke to media on Friday from the team’s hotel.
And he revealed that his dad cannot travel internationally.
“Fun fact: Need to get my dad a passport,” Gabriel joked. “So we’re learning about that.
“Second, just a little later in the week, so mom and dad, it’s from Hawai’i, you can imagine that flight’s even further than what we just did.”
The game began at 2.30 pm local time on Sunday – which was 9.30 am ET.
That meant Gabriel’s family watching from Hawai’i had to wake up in the middle of the night to watch his first start.
Gabriel has stepped in for Flacco during the first four weeks with the Browns offense struggling.
But the game in London on Sunday made him the 41st starting quarterback for the Browns since 1999.
Gabriel threw two touchdown passes against the Vikings.
But he saw victory snatched from him by a fourth-quarter touchdown from Jordan Addison.
Gabriel said, “I think I learned little details – definitely was ready for that.
“But all the details come down to it and I think in any game you’re going to want four to five plays back.
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“Of course, the result will feel different, and maybe your four to five plays may feel different.
“But that’s the game we live and play in.
“We’ve got to get back to work – there’s a lot to improve on.
“But I think in moments like these, you find true competitors, you find people that want to be here.
“Anyone can be really good riding high and what I know about our guys is we continue to work hard, continue to grind.
“But four to five plays could be the difference, and the difference is truly what we’ll be attacking.”
