CFL hands Riders' Garrett Marino 4 game suspension due to conduct against Ottawa Redblacks

The Canadian Football League (CFL) has suspended Roughriders’ defensive lineman Garrett Marino for four games due to his conduct during Friday’s game against the Ottawa Redblacks.

“This behaviour has no place in our league,” said Randy Ambrosie, Commissioner of the CFL, in a news release. “This discipline is intended to send a strong message that it will not be tolerated.”

“There’s no winners in this. I understand the league had to come down hard and send a message, and they did, but we feel bad for everyone involved,” said head coach, Craig Dickenson at practice on Tuesday.

The suspension, which is the most severe discipline imposed for in-game behaviour in league history, is broken down as follows:

• A two game suspension for Marino’s dangerous low hit on Ottawa’s quarterback, Jeremiah Masoli, which resulted in a serious injury.
• A one game suspension for verbal comments made about another player’s heritage which violates the CFL’s Code of Conduct
• A one game suspension for Marino’s illegal tackle of an Ottawa offensive lineman

Marino’s hit on Masoli and ensuing antics resulted in the defensive lineman’s ejection from the game, where he raised his helmet, patted his chest and blew kisses to the crowd as he walked towards the tunnel.

“We can win classy and that was not the way I want to see us win games,” Head Coach Craig Dickenson said after the game.

“His reaction, the way he acted when he left, he knows that was a big mistake. That’s something we don’t condone around here nor do we want to encourage,” said Dickenson.

“I talked to Garrett about it and he knows his theatrics after the play we were all disappointed. You see a guy on the ground wincing in pain and the last thing you want to do is celebrate. But he’s got much better character and he just made a mistake,” said quarterback, Cody Fajardo.

However the one game suspension for verbal comments was something Dickenson did not agree with.

“That may be a little bit of a reach. I’ll let the league figure that out. I’ll let the player talk to the PA (Player’s Association) and decide if he wants to appeal that part of the suspension. We support him if he does and we support him if he does not,” said Dickenson. “I don’t think Garret’s a racist, I know Garret personally,” he added.

“He’s a great guy. I’ve known him for two years man and I’ve never had no bad taste or bad blood with him,” said defensive lineman, A.C. Leonard when asked about the verbal comments.

The hit and the suspension are a major talking point throught the CFL right now but Fajardo wants the league to pay closer attention to all hits.

“Nothing happened to Montreal’s defensive lineman who hit me low (two weeks ago). I don’t know if it’s because I’m healthy or not but if you’re going to call it, call it square all the way across the board,” said Fajardo. “I was pretty disappointed in the league that they missed that one because I thought it was a pretty bad hit as well.”

Marino was absent from practice on Tuesday and Dickenson said Demarcus Christmas is expected to fill his spot on the roster this week. The defense will all have to be shaken up with the loss of Pete Robertson who is now expected to miss 4-6 weeks due to an injury sustained in the fourth quarter of Friday’s game.

According to TSN’s Farhan Lalji, Masoli will not require reconstructive ACL surgery but he’s expected be out of action for at least 10 to 12 weeks.