Saints DT Fairley advised to retire

Saints defensive tackle Nick Fairley is seeing multiple heart specialists after one physician advised Fairley to stop playing football, Saints coach Sean Payton said Thursday.

The Saints are concerned that continuing to play could worsen a heart condition the 29-year-old Fairley has had throughout his six-year NFL career. 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 Fairley has now seen three specialists. One suggested giving up football, but not all the medical opinions have come back yet.

“I want to make sure, if in fact he’s playing it, again that he’s playing with full confidence that he’s healthy to play and that nothing severe would come of him playing,” Payton said.

Fairley, a former Auburn star and 2011 first-round draft choice by Detroit, was one of New Orleans’ top defensive performers last season. He was signed to a four-year extension worth up to $28 million but has not participated in any of the club’s voluntary offseason practices that began three weeks ago.

Titans: DeMarco Murray was wearing a cast and wrap on his right hand at practice, but the running back and coach Mike Mularkey said the injury isn’t serious. Murray had a minor surgical procedure on his right ring finger last week to correct and issue that been bothering him since the 2016 season.

Lions: Signed offensive tackle Tony Hills, adding depth to a line that might be without Taylor Decker at left tackle. Decker had shoulder surgery this week and is out indefinitely after playing every snap on offense last year as a first-round pick.

Ex-player found dead: Authorities said former Bills and Ravens wide receiver James Hardy was found dead in a river in northeast Indiana. The Allen County Coroner’s Office said the 31-yearold’s body was identified Thursday, but that the cause and manner of death are still being investigated. Hardy was reported missing a few weeks ago by relatives.