Free agent TE Coby Fleener tells Don Banks of the Athletic that he’s still dealing with concussion symptoms stemming from the head injury he sustained last year.
“It’s still there, unfortunately,’’ Fleener said. “I’m just hoping it heals and gets better from time, I guess. I’d still like to play, but I have to get healthy first before I can even make that decision really. That’s the frustrating aspect of it. The doctors aren’t able to say, ‘Oh, in four to six weeks, he’ll be right as rain.’ That’s just not the reality with concussions. It’s a frustration for every athlete and every doctor who treats them and every coach who has to coach them.’’
Fleener has been one of the best available tight ends on the open market, so this clearly explains the lack of interest in him up to this point.
Fleener, 29, is a former second-round pick of the Colts back in 2012. He spent four years in New Orleans before signing a five-year, $36 million contract that included $18 million guaranteed with the Saints in 2016.
Fleener was set to make base salaries of $6.3 million over the next two years of the agreement when the Saints designated him as a post-June 1 release last month. The move freed up $3 million of available cap space while creating $5 million in dead money for New Orleans.
In 2017, Fleener appeared in 11 games for the Saints and caught 22 passes for 295 yards receiving and two touchdowns.
We have him featured in our Top 50 Available 2018 NFL Free Agents list.
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