Starting Job No Longer Kramer’s Priority

Although Erik Kramer is at the Detroit Lions’ training camp at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Mich., his thoughts are a couple of thousand miles away with his ailing infant son.

The former Pierce College quarterback, who led the Lions to the NFC championship game in 1991, returned to the practice field last week but is finding it difficult to concentrate on football.

“Actually, (football) is a distraction right now. When I’m on the field I’m doing the best I can to do my job, but when I’m not, I’m thinking about him in California,” said Kramer about his son, Griffen.

The child, the first for Kramer and his wife, Marshawn, was born June 24. Griffen was home in Agoura Hills for a short time before becoming sick.

“My wife took him to the doctor’s office and they noticed some puffiness around his navel,” Kramer said.

Doctors performed tests the same day and initially tried flushing out an infection with antibiotics, but by the next morning it had spread over Griffen’s abdomen.

The rare infection, originating at the base of the once-attached umbilical cord, kills underlying tissue.

“All of a sudden life shrunk into a little microcosm of going to the hospital,” Kramer said. “Life just became a back-and-forth trek to the hospital.”

Kramer said Griffen’s hearty size--9 pounds, 9 ounces at birth--early detection and prompt surgery saved his son’s life.

The infant remains in critical condition in the neonatal intensive care unit at Los Angeles Childrens Hospital, where he probably will remain for the next two or three weeks.

“He’s getting a lot better,” Kramer said.

Griffen isn’t expected to experience long-term effects from the infection. So, reluctantly, his father is back on the job.

Kramer’s delayed start has likely cost him a chance to start at quarterback. However, Coach Wayne Fontes doesn’t think he’ll be rusty too long.

“I think Erik’s mind is OK,” Fontes said. “I was concerned about his son like the whole team was, but Erik is Erik. He was here, looking like he didn’t miss a day. He threw the ball very well.”

Two seasons ago, Kramer passed for 1,635 yards and 11 touchdowns while helping the Lions win the NFC Central Division title before losing to Washington, 41-10, in the NFC championship game. Now, he is unsure if he will travel to London for the Aug. 8 exhibition game against Dallas.

“Being a new parent you have all this new hope and new optimism,” he said. “The baby takes over your life, but when something like this happens you feel so helpless. You just have to put all your trust in the doctors.

“Still, when Griffen gets out of this he’s going to have a hell of a story to tell.”

The Associated Press contributed to this story.