CFL.ca
CFL.ca Staff
VANCOUVER — The BC Lions announced Friday afternoon that receiver Paris Jackson has requested and received his release from the team. The team also announced that they have signed veteran defensive back Dante Marsh to an extension.
“Paris has requested his release to pursue a more significant playing role on another CFL club,” said Lions VP of football operations and GM Wally Buono.
“The BC Lions thank him for his many contributions to our organization on and off the field and wish him the very best.”
Jackson was the club’s first selection (sixth overall) in the 2003 CFL Draft and dressed for all 18 regular season games last year seeing duty primarily on special teams.
He recorded 185 regular appearances during his time with the Lions and in that time, caught a total of 420 passes (4th all-time) for 5,757 yards (8th all-time) and 31 touchdowns.
Marsh, meanwhile, enters his 11th season with the Leos and comes off a 2013 campaign that earned him West Division All-Star status for the fourth time in his career.
“Dante continues to play at an all-star level and is one of the cornerstones of our defence,” said VP of football operations and GM Wally Buono. “His extension is another piece in building a championship team in 2014.”
Appearing in all 18 games last season for the seventh time in his outstanding career, Marsh recorded 73 tackles and three interceptions. The four-time West Division All-Star and two-time Grey Cup champion is the club’s all-time leader in total tackles with 579 over 169 regular season games.
“You would be hard-pressed to find a player that works harder than Dante Marsh,” said head coach Mike Benevides. “He’s a big part of our defense and an even bigger part of our core leadership group.”
