Suspended Hebert insists he’s nice, not naughty

With his wings clipped by a onegame suspension, The Angry Bird says he’s not the dirty football player some people are making him out to be.

Ottawa Redblacks linebacker Kyries Hebert says he’s a nice guy.

“I don’ t know if you’ ve noticed, but I’ve done probably more for charity and people outside of football than anyone else the past decade and a half,” Hebert said Tuesday in his first media availability since he was suspended for leaving his feet to drill Calgary Stampeders receiver DaVaris Daniels last Thursday. “Ultimately I like to think of myself as a nice guy. I saw on Twitter, like, ‘He’s the dirtiest player in history.’ That hurt my feelings.”

Hebert is a high-energy player who plays on the edge. He’s been in hot water with Canadian Football League decision-makers before — he’s been fined for hits on Jon Cornish, Cody Fajardo and Brendan Gillanders.

“I need to be a better tackler — 800-plus career tackles and four of them cost me money,” he said. “I need to be better — for the sake of the quality of the game and health of all involved. I play fast, I play hard. If I hit them in the hip, that might be better. I’ll make my target lower.”

Asked if he thought he deserved a suspension, Hebert said: “They made a decision, rules are made so we can abide by them. No one was hurt and I’m happy that everyone came away from a play that looked to be dangerous and walked away healthy.”

Asked what he would have done if he was in commissioner Randy Ambrosie’s shoes, he said: “I would invite me to Toronto and have a sitdown with me. I understand and respect his position, I want to do what’s best for the league.”

Hebert will sit out Friday ’s game in Montreal — against a team he was part of for six years before joining the Redblacks this year.

“It hurts,” he said. “I was looking forward to going back to Montreal. I really don’t want to let my teammates down. Hopefully, they can go ahead and do the job against a team that hasn’t been good for awhile. I think they ’ll be able to get by. It’s hurtful, but it’s not about me — it’s about the team. Our linebacking corps will step up.”