The CFL’s investigation of Saskatchewan Roughriders’ defensive lineman Garrett Marino is nearing its conclusion, per sources.
The league typically announces supplemental discipline each week on Wednesday afternoons but a spokesperson has indicated to 3DownNation that an announcement could be made before then, possibly as early as Monday.
The investigation was initiated on Saturday less than 24 hours following the conclusion of Saskatchewan’s 28-13 victory over the Ottawa Redblacks. Marino was ejected from the game late in the fourth quarter after hitting quarterback Jeremiah Masoli illegally, who is expected to miss the next two to three months with a leg injury.
Marino continued to celebrate the hit following his ejection, flexing his arms and raising his helmet to salute fans while leaving the field. Redblacks’ receiver Nate Behar spoke to TSN after the game and accused Marino of uttering racist language on the field.
Redblacks’ offensive lineman Dino Boyd was charged with unnecessary roughness early in the fourth quarter when he drove Riders’ defensive lineman and CFL sack leader Pete Robertson into the turf. Marino appeared to retaliate on Ottawa’s next drive, launching himself into Boyd’s right knee from behind. His illegal hit on Masoli took place on the same drive six plays later.
Riders’ head coach Craig Dickenson said after the game that he felt Marino’s illegal hit on Masoli tainted the win for his team. He claimed Marino felt bad about the hit but also indicated that the young defensive lineman left the stadium early following his ejection.
Saskatchewan (4-1) is set to take on the Toronto Argonauts (1-2) on Saturday in the league’s annual Touchdown Atlantic game, which is set to be played at Acadia University in Wolfville, N.S.
