Ex-QB Kramer recovers after attempted suicide

Former Lions and Bears quarterback Erik Kramer was recovering after a reported suicide attempt late Tuesday at a motel in Calabasas, Calif.

Kramer, 50, suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound, according to NBC News.

Marshawn Kramer told NBC News that her former husband has been suffering from depression that she believes is related to his playing career.

Kramer played for five NFL teams in 10 seasons. In 1991, Kramer helped lead the Detroit Lions to a 12-4 record, a playoff win and a spot in the NFC Championship Game against Washington.

His most productive pro seasons came with the Chicago Bears in the mid-1990s.

But those seasons came at a price, Kramer's former wife believes.

"He is a very amazing man, a beautiful soul, but he has suffered depression since he was with the Bears," Marshawn Kramer said. "I can promise you he is not the same man I married."

Vermeil, who took the St. Louis Rams to the NFL title in 1999, joins former NFL quarterback Ron Jaworski and current New Orleans Saints players Marques Colston and Jahri Evans as owners of the Philadelphia Soul. Vermeil will have a small stake, 2.5 percent of the franchise.

• Two of the Arizona Cardinals' most significant offseason acquisitions are injured, one of them — starting nose tackle Corey Peters — is lost for the season. Peters tore his left Achilles' tendon in practice Wednesday. Starting left guard Mike Iupati will undergo surgery for a torn left meniscus. Iupati was hurt in Tuesday's practice.

• Matt Flynn signed a one-year deal with the Jets, bringing in the veteran quarterback to back up Ryan Fitzpatrick, who's now the starter with Geno Smith sidelined six to 10 weeks with a broken jaw.

• Jets offensive lineman Oday Aboushi was suspended one game by the NFL for violating the league's substance abuse policy. During a traffic stop in Morris Plains, N.J., on Jan. 10, police found a small amount of marijuana.