New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Nick Fairley was placed on NFL season-ending injured reserve Monday because of a heart issue, after a specialist suggested he no longer play.
In March, the 29-year-old lineman signed a four-year contract worth $28m with half of it guaranteed.
But Fairley consulted with at least three specialists in the off-season, with Saints coach Sean Payton saying at least one suggested Fairley end his career.
The Saints are not required to pay Fairley his $1m base salary this year because his injury was not football-related.
Fairley was diagnosed with an enlarged heart before being made a first-round pick by Detroit in the 2011 NFL Draft. He has passed physicals for three different teams over six seasons.
Last season, Fairley made 43 tackles and 6.5 quarterback sacks over 16 games for the Saints. He has 170 tackles and 20.5 sacks in 77 career games with the Saints, Lions and then-St Louis Rams.
The regular season of home and away matches run from September to December 2017, culminating in PlayOffs from January 6, 2018 and the Super Bowl on February 4, 2018 at the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minnesota to determine the world champion.
READ MORE….
Derek Carr rebounds from a tough week as the Saints beat the Colts 38-27
Derek Carr threw for 310 yards and two touchdowns in a bounce-back performance, Taysom Hill and Alvin Kamara scored two TDs apiece, and the New Orleans Saints beat the Indianapolis Colts 38-27
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Derek Carr spent the past week answering questions about his sideline demeanor.
New Orleans’ quarterback had nothing to apologize for Sunday.
Carr masterfully carved up Indianapolis’ young, depleted secondary, Taysom Hill and Alvin Kamara scored two touchdowns apiece, and the Saints beat the Colts 38-27 to move into a share of the NFC South lead.
New Orleans (4-4) ended a two-game skid, and Carr got a chance to move past the criticism he took for scolding teammates and yelling at offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael during a Week 7 loss to Jacksonville.
“Gosh, it feels good to smile,” Carr said. “I was at one place for nine years. If I got banged up, everyone in that building knew I was playing that Sunday. If I got upset, they knew where my heart was. But now I’m in a new place, and new things are happening. You have to prove yourself, you have to show guys where you’re coming from, you have to build new relationships. That was something I put on my heart this week. I tried not to be so emotional.”
Things went smoothly against the Colts (3-5). Carr made all the right reads, was on time and watched his receivers take care of the rest.
The four-time Pro Bowler went 19 of 27 for 310 yards with two TDs and no interceptions. Although he lost a fumble, he made big play after big play.
Rashid Shaheed had three catches for a career-best 153 yards, including a 58-yard TD catch, and for the second time this year he helped seal the victory with a long third-down reception in the final minutes. Kamara also caught a TD pass while Michael Thomas and Chris Olave combined for nine receptions and 114 yards.
“A lot came together for us today,” Carr said. “I felt for the first time all year that all 11 guys on offense played complementary football.”
The Colts, who have lost three straight overall and still have not beaten the Saints since losing the teams’ Super Bowl matchup after the 2009 season, challenged the Saints’ usually stingy defense.
Leave a Reply