Saints awaiting third opinion on Nick Fairley
 

Saints awaiting third opinion on Nick Fairley's career-threatening heart condition

Updated on June 8, 2017 at 2:08 PM
Posted on June 8, 2017 at 1:04 PM
By Josh Katzenstein, NOLA.com The

The New Orleans Saints are still awaiting another medical opinion on defensive tackle Nick Fairley, who has an enlarged heart that is putting the future of his career in jeopardy.

Coach Sean Payton said Thursday that Fairley has already undergone three examinations with heart specialists, and the team is awaiting an opinion from the third exam before determining the best step to take with the 29-year-old.

"The first one was one that advised that he shouldn't play football again," Payton said after organized team activities. "The second opinion was a little different, and he's ... already gotten a third opinion. We're waiting on that opinion.

"It's obviously something significant and serious that we've got to pay attention to, obviously both for Nick and for the club. So, we're hopeful and yet we're guarded because of the type of condition that we're talking about."

Payton said the Saints are hoping to have a resolution with regards to Fairley's future within the next couple weeks.

http://media.nola.com/saints_impact/...0990-large.jpg

Nick Fairley's Saints teammates want him to focus on health before football

Fairley is undergoing further testing

NFL teams discovered Fairley's heart condition during his combine medical evaluations in 2011, but the Detroit Lions felt comfortable enough with the issue to draft him 13th overall in the first round that year.

"When he came out in the draft, he was someone that, at the combine physical, had what I would say is not very uncommon -- an enlarged heart," Payton said. "(It's) something that a lot of the athletes that we see during the physicals have, but the one examination (this year) saw further concern. And that's why he hasn't been doing anything right now until we get a better feel for where he's at."

Fairley spent four seasons with the Lions before going playing for the Rams in 2015. He joined the Saints on a one-year deal in 2016 and had a career year that resulted in New Orleans rewarding him with a four-year, $28 million deal this March.

Fairley passed multiple physicals during the first six years of his career, but Payton indicated Thursday that Saints doctors suggested he see a specialist after his physical in March.

Payton said Fairley traveled "out east" to visit one specialist. He saw another in Houston and has since seen a third.

"The most important thing in our mind is his well-being," Payton said.

Payton also mentioned the importance of Fairley being confident in his health if he is cleared to return to football.

ttp://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2017/06/nick_fairley_saints_heart.html

Re: Saints awaiting third opinion on Nick Fairley
 

Sucks.

Could you imagine playing at that level with this on your mind?

I hope he's healthy enough to continue enjoying every aspect of his life.

Re: Saints awaiting third opinion on Nick Fairley
 

The Detroit Lions also wasn't stupid enough to resign him to a multi million dollar contract.

http://i.imgur.com/aR2S5Qj.gif

Re: Saints awaiting third opinion on Nick Fairley
 

If Fairley can't play anymore, then I hope it won't affect him in life.

That being said, looking at the football aspect of it, why wasn't this considered before giving him a huge contract?

Re: Saints awaiting third opinion on Nick Fairley
 

If he can't play anymore are we on the hook for his entire contract? Could settlement be worked out?

Re: Saints awaiting third opinion on Nick Fairley
 

both good points

Re: Saints awaiting third opinion on Nick Fairley
 

Re: Saints awaiting third opinion on Nick Fairley
 

Hell no we won't be on the hook for it! There's no way. He'll have to pretty much retire at that point. Maybe the signing bonus. That's probably it.

Re: Saints awaiting third opinion on Nick Fairley
 

He'll get all of the guaranteed money as far as I know.

Re: Saints awaiting third opinion on Nick Fairley
 

Get healthy, stay and healthy

Re: Saints awaiting third opinion on Nick Fairley
 

It's good they found the condition. He could have just dropped dead. Happens all the time. I would love to see him in Black And Gold again, but I personally think he should retire. The NFL is a brutal game. He plays as a 300 pound guy in the trenches. The strain and stress of the game. The excitement of the game. It just doesn't sound wise to play again.

Re: Saints awaiting third opinion on Nick Fairley
 

Wish him the best even though I did not want to resign him

Re: Saints awaiting third opinion on Nick Fairley
 

Likewise, hope he lives a long life and gets whatever money he can and help from the NFL. End of the day just a game.

Re: Saints awaiting third opinion on Nick Fairley
 

Re: Saints awaiting third opinion on Nick Fairley
 

Do we use the next man up mantra or look for a trade?

Re: Saints awaiting third opinion on Nick Fairley
 

Re: Saints awaiting third opinion on Nick Fairley
 

Re: Saints awaiting third opinion on Nick Fairley
 

Here is really good read. Open linky below ...

Nick Fairley's heart history reason for optimism - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Re: Saints awaiting third opinion on Nick Fairley
 

I say next man up and see what we have and address the issue next year

round 5
Tyeler Davison

round 4
David Onyemata

UDFA
Justin Zimmer
Devaroe Lawrence
Ashaad Mabry


I would like to see Justin Zimmer get some game snaps.

If desperate wait for camp cuts and/or raid a PS :p

Josh Tupou, DT, Colorado
Jarron Jones, DT, Notre Dame
Charles Walker, DT, Oklahoma
Omarius Bryant, DT, Western Kentucky
Nick James, DT, Mississippi State
Adam Butler, DT, Vanderbilt
Cameron Robbins, DL, Northwestern

I really like
Josh Toupu DT Colorado 6011 325 5.22 #55 rSr
he ain't pretty but he is a space eater.

off topic I am watching
Jessamen Dunker OG Tenn St 6042 318 4.98 #66 rSr
Want to see if they try to sneak him onto the PS

Then again you never know what pro gets cut

Re: Saints awaiting third opinion on Nick Fairley
 

optimism is restored

Re: Saints awaiting third opinion on Nick Fairley
 

I am neutral right now and don't know what to expect, but this is not good for him. How do you go 100% knowing you might kill yourself, and long term this cannot be good for him in life.

Re: Saints awaiting third opinion on Nick Fairley
 

I don't think we will see him on the field again... if one doctor tells you get second opinion then the 2nd doctor tells you not to play so you go for a 3rd opinion... the heart is no joke he should think about that before he decides....

Re: Saints awaiting third opinion on Nick Fairley
 

This sux on multiple levels.
I hope he does what is best for him, although he's been playing with this
6 years. I used to work in a helicopter. While flying can be very safe, this
particular gig could get a bit hairy, esp during police chases. A friend of
mine died working the same gig. I always thought he would have, as I would have, said, "I loved my job, and it thats the risk, then fine. I'd rather work my job, than not. - but everyone is different, and yes, this is more important than football, if one can imagine such.

Re: Saints awaiting third opinion on Nick Fairley
 

Re: Saints awaiting third opinion on Nick Fairley
 

Re: Saints awaiting third opinion on Nick Fairley
 

Re: Saints awaiting third opinion on Nick Fairley
 

If there were reason for optimism I think he would've maybe been there hanging out at practice today. I think they know.

Re: Saints awaiting third opinion on Nick Fairley
 

Re: Saints awaiting third opinion on Nick Fairley
 

Well it is also who is left out there for what price vs what they are likely to produce. There is a lot to take into consideration. You don't just start trying to sign people. You have to weigh it against what you have and what you will spend etc. There's still a lot of time to sign someone if we need to, want to, etc

Re: Saints awaiting third opinion on Nick Fairley
 

The final decision will be Fairley's, not the Saints or the doctors. He is the one that needs to weigh the risks, as he has been doing his entire playing career. That's why I am expecting him to come back. Players want to play and Fairley loves being with the Saints, his favorite team growing up.

Re: Saints awaiting third opinion on Nick Fairley
 

Teddy Bruschi's take on Nick and his heart condition.

Re: Saints awaiting third opinion on Nick Fairley
 

Just browsing news and I see that a freshman O-Lineman at Kent State has just died following conditioning drills. Hits a little close to home with this Fairley situation.

Re: Saints awaiting third opinion on Nick Fairley
 

Only if that O-lineman had a known condition for years that has been successfully controlled medically. That's why cardiac testing is done at the combine ... where Fairley's condition was discovered. There are ways to prevent tragedies like what happened at Kent State if only that testing was made mandatory for athletes at every level.

Re: Saints awaiting third opinion on Nick Fairley
 

So Sean Fazende posted this nugget...

Re: Saints awaiting third opinion on Nick Fairley
 

Re: Saints awaiting third opinion on Nick Fairley
 

We just drafted a dt who is likely better than Onyematta last year. Onyematta is supposed to take the next step. And we have Rankins and Davison solidified. For all we know, Rankins could be Fairley-like this season. The only issue we have is depth.

Re: Saints awaiting third opinion on Nick Fairley
 

I'm not so sure it's being controlled medically as much as he's just gotten by... So far.

My mom's first husband died from an enlarged heart back in the early 80's. He had pneumonia, went to the hospital and kept getting worse, and that's when they first discovered he had the enlarged heart. There was nothing they could do about it back then, and combined with the pneumonia which was made far worse by his condition, he died within a couple of days.

They have since come up with a procedure to essentially cut a "pie slice" out of the heart, and then sew it back together. There may be another procedure (aside from a full transplant) now, but I haven't heard of any. He needs to do something about this, or he WILL have to stop playing. It's not something you play around with and treat with pills. Medications might wart of certain things from happening, but it's far too dangerous to keep going about it that way, in my opinion.

I'm also not certain that he would be advised to play if he DID have that procedure done that I referred to. I know it can extend the life of the average person, but I'm not sure if it's safe to continue with the strenuous lifestyle of being a football player. We'll have to see.

Re: Saints awaiting third opinion on Nick Fairley
 

More embarrassingly, the Saints are 3rd in the NFL currently in “Dead Money” at almost $17 million. Fairley’s retirement would put them at almost $28 million which would easily put them in 1st by a distance of near $10 million. That’s a song with a way too common refrain.

This is a huge issue for the saints.

2016 the dead hit was 40 million.

So the future looks bright in two years.

Just need to stop signing those Byrd styled bone head contracts.

Re: Saints awaiting third opinion on Nick Fairley
 

Only thing consistent with our defense are horrible contracts. Granted, most of it's injury related but still, have to stop giving these journeymen sweet deals. Should have offered a one year deal. Take it or leave it.

Re: Saints awaiting third opinion on Nick Fairley
 

FO have proven once again they lack the ability to do the slightest bit of homework on a player before shelling out a big contract.