Bart Starr making slow progress

Bart Starr continues to make slow progress after suffering two strokes, seizures and a heart attack over a week's time in his hometown of Birmingham, Ala., in early September.

Starr's biggest hurdle has been regaining his speech and mobility, but his condition appears to be improving based on Kramer's conversations with Starr's wife, Cherry. He said he forwarded Cherry and Bart Starr Jr. information about the use of stem-cell therapy to treat stroke victims.

Detroit Red Wings great Gordie Howe reportedly used the treatment during his recovery from a recent stroke.

"I sent Bart Jr. and Cherry all the information I could find on that clinic," Kramer said. "Bart was having trouble walking. He was having trouble talking. I haven't talked to Cherry for three or four weeks, but the last time I talked to her, he was home and he had gone outside by himself, and he walked around the patio by himself, and they were getting ready to go for a ride.

"So that was very encouraging and very hopeful. But he's having a tough time."

Kramer was joined on the tour by former teammate Dave Robinson, a three-time Pro Bowl linebacker who was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013 as a senior selection. The opportunity to take part in the tour was something neither man wanted to pass up.

"Well it's kind of bittersweet," Kramer said. "It's sweet because I'm kind of the last guy standing in a lot of ways and it's bitter because Bart's having a tough time and several of the other guys are having a tough time. I can't remember something once in a while, which is fairly normal, but I go, 'oh is this it? Is that the end of it?' So I'm aware of it, acutely aware of it, and worry about, but so far so good. My mouth still works, and my brain still works and I feel good, and my golf game sucks like always, but everything else is working well."

— whodkiew@pressgazettemedia.com and follow him on Twitter @WesHod.