Saints release Nick Fairley as contract remains unresolved

METAIRIE, La. -- The New Orleans Saints officially released defensive tackle Nick Fairley on Monday after he spent last season on the reserve/non-football illness list because of a heart condition.

It’s unclear if Fairley, who turned 30 last month, has any intention of trying to play again. He has not spoken publicly since the heart concerns came to light last spring, and he was not cleared to play after visiting with multiple specialists.

Fairley’s contract status also remains unclear. Both sides filed grievances last year to try to recover money, since he signed a four-year contract worth between $28-30 million (including an $8 million signing bonus) before he was ruled out. At issue is…