Article content

Player safety is one of many planks on CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie’s platform.

Ambrosie has addressed the issue by eliminating full-contact practices during the regular season and adding a third bye week to avoid short breaks between games. Both initiatives are designed to reduce injuries and improve the quality of play.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Ambrosie sends message by suspending Hebert Back to video

Football, however, remains a violent game and an incident which occurred last Thursday was a reminder of that.

Late in the third quarter, Ottawa Redblacks linebacker Kyries Hebert levelled Calgary Stampeders receiver DaVaris Daniels with a hit to the head. Hebert led with the crown of his helmet and elbow while Daniels was in what the CFL deemed “a defenceless position.”

Hebert was penalized 15 yards for unnecessary roughness and was subsequently suspended for one game, which he is to serve Friday when the Redblacks visit the Montreal Alouettes.

“Kyries is a very good player and I want to see him playing,” said Ambrosie, who was in Regina on the weekend for the Humboldt Broncos tribute game. “Players have to do better and they have to be part of the solution. What happened on that play is not acceptable.