Saskatchewan Roughriders Defensive Lineman Garrett Marino earned three different Canadian Football League (CFL) suspensions and a warning from Randy Ambrosie, the CFL commissioner..Marino’s suspensions are the most severe for in-game behaviour in CFL history for two incidents in Friday’s game against the Ottawa Redblacks..“This behaviour has no place in our league … This discipline is intended to send a strong message that it will not be tolerated,” said Ambrosie in a press release..Marino had a “dangerous and reckless” low hit on Ottawa quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, causing a serious injury and sidelining Masoli for 10 to 12 games..The hit got Marino ejected from the game and he celebrated the hit while leaving the field leading to a two-game suspension..Marino received an additional game suspension for comments about Masoli’s heritage and another game suspension for an illegal and reckless hit on an Ottawa offensive lineman..Roughriders’ Head Coach Craig Dickenson defended the racist allegations against Marino..“He’s not a racist and there’s zero evidence there’s any racial motivation or any racial slurs. I’ve talked to him, I’ve talked to other guys that were in the game,” Dickenson told 620 CKRM..“He is engaged to a black woman, just so people know that. His best friend is an African-American. He’s not a racist and I think that spin is just a convenient way to maybe make it seem a little bit easier to hate on the guy, but he’s not a racist.”.Dickenson said that Marino is a physical player and sees no evidence of racism..“Is he rough? Darn right. Is he physical? Absolutely. Does he push the line? Yes. Does he cross it? Yes, occasionally he does and we need to reel him back,” said Dickenson..“The racial element? I don’t see it and I don’t think it’s accurate to say that’s involved at all. That’s my take on it.”.However, Dickenson used his Twitter account to apologize for how he defended the racist accusations against Marino..“What I said today in defence of Garrett Marino was racially insensitive and irrelevant. I attempted to defend his character amid accusations he said something racially or culturally insensitive by pointing out that he has many close friends who are black and a long-term girlfriend who is also black,” wrote Dickenson..“I realize this comment is insensitive and irrelevant to the conversation. I apologize for this comment. That being said, I stand by my belief that Garrett is being unfairly characterized and punished for his actions.”.Dickenson defended Marino against allegation he purposely tried to hurt Masoli. .“I don’t believe he tried to hurt the quarterback. He did go low, which is a penalty and if you hurt the guy, you’re going to get fined for it. His reaction was what got him in trouble and that’s what I was most disappointed in … it wasn’t the fact he went low on the quarterback. He knows he can’t do that,” said Dickenson..The Roughriders take on the Toronto Argonauts at noon MST on Saturday in Halifax.
