Saints, Fairley await third opinion on potentially career-ending heart condition

Fairley has an enlarged heart and doctors are split on whether he can play again

New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Nick Fairley has been sitting out organized team activities. He recently underwent tests that showed that his heart condition could put his football future in jeopardy. 

Fairley has been visiting doctors to get their opinions on how to proceed. Right now, he's waiting for a third opinion, because the first two doctors gave him different prognoses, according to Saints coach Sean Payton.

"Right now, where it's at is that he's gotten two professional opinions," Payton said, per the New Orleans Advocate. "The first one was one that advised that he shouldn't play football again. The second opinion was a little different, and he's getting a third opinion, or has already gotten a third opinion. We're waiting on that opinion."

Fairley was diagnosed with an enlarged heart at the 2011 NFL combine, and has played with it ever since. The recent tests showed that it may no longer be safe for him to do so. The Saints obviously want to be as careful as possible before allowing Fairley back on the field. 

"The most important thing right now in our minds is his well-being," Payton said. "I want to make sure if he's playing it again, that he's playing it with full confidence that he's able to play and nothing severe would come of him playing. We haven't been trying to hide him or any of that, we're just trying to get as many eyes on it, that have experience with it."

Payton seems to be more concerned with Fairley's life outside football than with his future with the team.

"There's two ways to look at it," Payton said. "The potential bad news is you don't play football again; the potential good news is you lead a healthy life with the condition that you know you have and treat accordingly. In the event that there's enough confidence that he can play, then we broach that when the time comes."

Fairley had one of his best seasons last year, notching a career-high 6.5 sacks and 43 combined tackles during his first year in New Orleans. If he's medically cleared, he's in line to once again work as a starter on the team's defensive line.