On Monday night, the Canadian Football League (CFL) suspended Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive lineman Garrett Marino for four games for his conduct against the Ottawa Redblacks last Friday.
“This behavior has no place in our league,” said CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie. “This discipline is intended to send a strong message that it will not be tolerated.”
This is the league’s most severe total discipline ever imposed for in-game behavior during one game in history. Here is the breakdown of the suspension.
- A two-game suspension for Marino’s dangerous and reckless low hit on Ottawa quarterback Jeremiah Masoli on play #123, which resulted in serious injury and Marino’s ejection from the game, and for Marino’s subsequent celebration;
- A one-game suspension for verbal comments Marino made about Masoli’s heritage during the game, which clearly violates our Code of Conduct.
- A one-game suspension for Marino’s illegal and reckless tackle of an Ottawa offensive lineman on a previous play.
In addition, the league also cited Marino’s discipline record after 12 CFL career games, which includes a previous ejection and two fines for his manner of play.
