Saints’ Fairley advised to give up game

Saints defensive tackle

Nick Fairley is seeing multiple heart specialists after one physician advised him to stop playing football, New Orleans coach Sean

Payton said yesterday. “Obviously, there’s concern,” Payton said. “But there isn’t a final answer.”

Payton says he hopes Fairley, who has been absent during recent voluntary offseason practices, can return to the Saints, but the coach said the 29-yearold defensive lineman also should be certain that continuing to play won’t worsen a heart condition that he’s had throughout his sixyear NFL career.

Fairley, a former Auburn star and 2011 first-round draft choice by Detroit, was one of the Saints’ top defensive performers last season. He was credited with 61⁄ sacks, nine tackles for losses and 22 quarterback hits.

This offseason, Fairley signed a four-year extension worth up to $28 million, but has not participated in any of the voluntary offseason practices that began three weeks ago. Payton said the Saints put Fairley through a physical examination, and that it was a team physician who first suggested that Fairley see a heart specialist.

Payton said NFL teams have been aware that the 6-foot-4, 308-pound Fairley had an enlarged heart 2 since before he was drafted. Payton said Fairley has seen three specialists. One suggested giving up football, but not all the medical opinions have come back.

Murray aching

Running back DeMarco

Murray was wearing a cast and wrap on his right hand at the Tennessee Titans’ practice, but coach Mike

Mularkey said the injury isn’t serious.

Murray had minor surgery on his right ring finger last week. He is due to have the cast removed next week, and asked Mularkey to allow him to participate in next week’s mandatory minicamp, a request the coach is considering. . . .

The New York Giants signed veteran defensive tackle Corbin Bryant and waived center Khaled Holmes. Bryant played in 56 games with 18 starts with the Buffalo Bills over the past four seasons. . . .

The Detroit Lions signed offensive tackle Tony Hills, adding depth to an offensive line that might be without Taylor Decker, who had shoulder surgery and is out indefinitely after playing every snap on offense last year. Detroit also signed defensive tackles Ego Ferguson and Bruce Gaston. ... The Arizona Cardinals signed first-round draft pick Haason Reddick to a four-year deal. Reddick, a linebacker out of Temple, was the 13th overall pick. . . . Defensive end Jordan

Willis, a third-round choice from Kansas State, signed a four-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Bills WR suspended

The NFL suspended Buffalo Bills backup receiver

Walt Powell for the first four games of the season for violating the league’s policy on performance enhancing substances. Powell is in his fourth NFL season, third with Buffalo. He had 14 catches for 142 yards in nine games before sustaining a season-ending left ankle injury in November.