Buffalo Bills: Things we know during this somber week

This week has been a bit of a somber one for the Buffalo Bills and fans of the team. A valued member of the family passed away and will never be forgotten.

As many have stated, there is an agglomeration of Buffalo Bills fans all over the globe.

I have traveled to many Caribbean islands, multiple European countries, obviously Mexico and Canada, Hawaii, California, Nevada, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Maryland, Texas, Arizona, Colorado, all over NY, PA, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, the Carolinas, Louisiana, Florida Keys, cruises, all-inclusive resorts, Minnesota, Vermont, Maine and D.C. always sporting a Bills cap or shirt.

I always meet Bills fans at airports or just casually walking the streets. Casually as in sticking out as a tourist. Trotting along so indifferently. Ok, maybe not so casual. They usually had some former connection to WNY or are just fans of the NFL and have some background involving the Bills.

Bills backer bars are in multiple quantities in major cities everywhere.

Pancho Billa had the rather decisive difference in that he had zero connections to Buffalo. He was not a sports broadcaster who potentially got close to the players reporting on them or at celebrity golf tournaments. He did not become a fan because of a parent or spouse.

Referencing him as a fan is also a rather large understatement. Ezra Castro represented WNY based on choosing the team as a child because the uniform and helmet colors had similarities to the Mexican flag. He chose the Bills and then began traveling to Buffalo for home openers and other games when Buffalo was traveling out west.

His outfit and character were priceless, an instant classic. Pancho was a class act. Several members of the team know him on a personal level. His passing was very sad, especially being 39 years old leaving a family behind.

Thank you very kindly for showing some of us fans here, who expostulate regarding everything. In other words, how to be a fan with integrity.

He did this most recently while he went through his treatments always optimistically supporting the Bills. He never was too sick to have a positive vibe when it was Bills talk time. We all can learn a lot from you as far as conduct as a fan and courage as a person. He will be talked about for generations.

The overwhelming response to his passing in the Queen City is clearly a large sample of how the majority of fans endeared Pancho. The empathy while he was sick was just second to none, one of those times you are just so proud to be a Buffalonian. One Buffalo.

Go Bills, Pancho! Godspeed our friend. Godspeed Ezra.

Things We Know About the Buffalo Bills This Week:

Lee Smith returned to the Bills with the reputation as an elite blocker as far as tight ends go. The only player who was on the Bills during his initial years in Buffalo is Jerry Hughes. He is excited to be back and assured the other tight ends he is not her to take catches or success away from them. He is here to leave all he has out on the field creating opportunities for running backs, wide outs, quarterbacks and of course other tight ends.

A member of the 1965 Championship team, Douglas Goodwin, passed away this past weekend. He was an 11th round selection in the draft. He had heart disease and some former Bills and ownership contributed money so he could have a transplant back in 2001. Rest in peace Mr. Goodwin. Once a Buffalo Bill, always a Buffalo Bill.

Buffalo first-round draft pick EJ Manuel retired from the NFL. So many great memories to mention here. Feel free to discuss your favorite EJ memory at the water cooler tomorrow at the office.