Jamie Nye: Patrick Levels throws some much-needed fuel on CFL’s playoff fire

The CFL needs more players like Patrick Levels.

The Montreal Alouettes linebacker came out of the gate this week with a prediction that his Alouettes will win the East Division semifinal. And while we don’t need contrived media events to hype up our football like you see for boxing or MMA matches, a little more personality is good for this league.

Unfortunately, Hamilton Tiger-Cats linebacker Simoni Lawrence didn’t take the bait from Levels, but maybe that’s Simoni growing up a little bit because I’m not sure he would have been as disciplined a few years ago.

But Levels’ guarantee reminded me of another famous quote before a playoff game. The late John Mandarich proclaimed to Edmonton reporters that the Eskimos at the time were going to blow the Saskatchewan Roughriders out of the water.

The quote grabbed headlines and there was content to fill papers and get people revved up for the game. And of course, it lives in Rider lore after the 12-point underdogs shocked Edmonton’s 16-2 historic team.

Will Levels’ guarantee work out? Who cares? As long as people are talking about it.