Just five days before the Buffalo Bills play the first NFL regular-season game in Toronto, the man that arranged the matchup, Ted Rogers, died at age 75 of congenative heart failure.

Rogers was the founder and CEO of Rogers Communications, and he is the man that paid Bills owner Ralph Wilson $80 million for eight NFL games in Toronto.

Buffalo played Pittsburgh in Toronto last summer, and will play the Miami Dolphins in Toronto on Sunday. After Sunday, the Bills will play one regular season game in Toronto for each of the next four years, and play two more preseason ones there, as well.

Without Rogers, it would not have happened. An element of sadness now will hang over Sunday’s game, but it also will be a tribute to Rogers’ life.

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