Nick Fairley's future in question thanks to heart condition

TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 11: Nick Fairley #90 of the New Orleans Saints looks on during the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on December 11, 2016 in Tampa, Florida. Tampa Bay defeated New Orleans 16-11. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

  • New Orleans Saints DT Nick Fairley has reportedly been diagnosed with a heart condition. Fairley has played with the condition throughout his career, but the former first-round pick’s condition is now serious enough that there are concerns about the future of his career.
  • Fairley signed a four-year, $28 million deal with the Saints in March. He finished 2016 with a pass-rush productivity (PRP measures pressure created on a per-snap basis with weighting toward sacks) of 8.1, which ranked him seventh among defensive tackles with 100 or more pass-rushing snaps.
  • He amassed seven sacks, which ranked fourth among all interior defensive linemen in the league. His run-stop percentage of 7.9 percent ranked 14th of 37 defensive tackles with at least 200 run-defense snaps.
  • Fairley achieved the highest grade (88.5) of his career while playing in Detroit in 2012. That year he ranked second among DTs with at least 100 pass-rush snaps in pass-rush productivity. In 2014 his pass-rush productivity of 10.1 saw him as the No. 1 defensive tackle in the league.
  • The Saints will hope Fairley will be cleared to get back to work, after a season where they ranked 27th in total defense in the NFL.

Nick Fairley

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