Sometimes people would ask me how I could leave him alone with members of the press.

Two things.

For one, the press (and he) appreciated his candor without my looking over his shoulder like a watchman. For another, he is the owner. And the owner can say pretty much whatever he feels like whenever he feels like it.

I always appreciated that.

There were a number of times when I brought a charity request to Mr. B — paying part of funeral costs, sponsoring things to for youth or prep football in the state, and so forth.

He never said no, never suggested I set up a committee to "study the matter."

Pat invariably offered to pay, generally either the entire cost or way more than was requested, but with one stipulation: I keep my mouth shut and never mention it to the press.

"You do the right thing because it is the right thing, and do not look for publicity showing how generous you are," Mr. B would intone.

And that is why I am not mentioning specific instances here.

He asked me not to, and I will honor that request always.

His door way always open, and I could go in and talk to him anytime. Casually, seriously or real seriously.

He listened and then acted, and his instincts to make the right move were tremendous.

Maybe that's because he was always focused on doing the right thing — not necessarily the right thing PR-wise, although it was fascinating to see that the "right thing" was generally both a great PR move as well.

There is a common guiding line for judgment of Hall of Fame candidates — "Do you feel that when you watched this guy perform you were watching one of the great players of his era?"

Mr. B, though not a player, exceeded that standard in a big way in his own role as a team owner and member of many NFL committees.

Watching and having the honor of working with Pat Bowlen made me certain I was in the presence of an owner who was not just among the best of his era, but among the very best in NFL history.