Ex-Vikings QB Tommy Kramer says he has dementia
MINNEAPOLIS -- Former Minnesota |A|
Vikings quarterback Tommy Kramer |B|
has been diagnosed with |C|
dementia, he announced on |D|
social media. The 69-year-old Kramer, |E|
who played 13 of |F|
his 14 seasons in |G|
the NFL with the |H|
Vikings and made the |J|
Pro Bowl after leading |K|
the league in passer |L|
rating in 1986, posted |M|
on his X account |O|
Wednesday that he was |P|
formally diagnosed with the |Q|
cognitive decline a little |R|
more than year ago |S|
at the Cleveland Clinic |U|
as part of a |V|
health and wellness program |Y|
for former NFL players. Kramer |Z|
said he was inspired |A|
to share about his |B|
condition after the revelation |C|
Pro Football Hall of |D|
Fame quarterback Brett Favre |E|
made Tuesday during a |F|
congressional hearing that he |G|
has Parkinson's disease. Kramer said |H|
his doctors told him |J|
at his one-year checkup |K|
that the dementia hasn't |L|
advanced and that he |M|
has stopped consuming alcohol |O|
to better cope with |P|
it. "Please, no sympathy," Kramer |Q|
wrote. "I've lived a |R|
great life and wouldn't |S|
change a thing. Nobody |U|
wanted to win more |V|
than me and I |Y|
never gave up, and |Z|
that's exactly how I'm |A|
going to battle this." Kramer, |B|
a native of San |C|
Antonio, Texas, was drafted |D|
in the first round |E|
out of Rice by |F|
the Vikings in 1977. |G|
He was given the |H|
nickname "Two Minute Tommy" |J|
for his late-game success, |K|
most famously a 46-yard |L|
Hail Mary pass for |M|
a touchdown in 1980 |O|
that was tipped and |P|
caught with one hand |Q|
by Ahmad Rashad to |R|
cap a comeback victory |S|
over Cleveland Browns that |U|
clinched a division title |V|
for Minnesota. Kramer passed |Y|
for 456 yards and |Z|
four touchdowns in that |A|
game. Kramer is second in |B|
Vikings history in passing |C|
yards, behind Hall of |D|
Fame member Fran Tarkenton, |E|
but much of his |F|
career was interrupted by |G|
injuries. He became the |H|
starter in 1979, the |J|
only season in which |K|
he played all 16 |L|
games. He played his final |M|
NFL season in 1990 |O|
for the New Orleans |P|
Saints.
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