Toronto Mayor Rob Ford draws a crowd as he takes in Bills game at Rogers Centre

TORONTO – Mayor Rob Ford drew a crowd Sunday as he arrived for the NFL game between the Buffalo Bills and Atlanta Falcons.

Within seconds, a lineup of fans with cameras was in the aisle as the beleaguered Toronto mayor took his seat at the top of the lower tier of a VIP section of Rogers Centre during the first quarter.

Ford, a big football fan and former high school coach, smiled and shook hands as security and police tried to keep the aisle beside him clear. Ford was wearing a Buffalo Bills jersey with Fred Jackson’s No. 22 on it.

“He’s not working. He’s here to see the game,” said a Rogers Centre security official as he tired to shoo a reporter away.

Several police officers were stationed at the top of the section.

Ford also took in the CFL Eastern Conference final at the domed stadium several weeks ago and was surrounded by people who wanted to take his picture or shake hands.

He has spent months in the media limelight as a result of revelations of smoking crack cocaine and appearing drunk in public.