Ashley Ambrose, our new CB?
 

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...s/12000685.htm

chiefs seek corner


Law is still in picture

Ambrose, however, remains favorite


As week two of the Chiefs’ search for a cornerback began Monday, Ashley Ambrose emerged as the realistic favorite, and Ty Law kept his spot somewhere high on the speed dial.

Coach Dick Vermeil said Monday night that the Chiefs are “very interested” in Ambrose, a 13-year veteran who worked out in Kansas City late last week. The holdup, at least in part, is Law, the Pro Bowl corner who visited the Chiefs in March and is still on the market.

The Chiefs want Law if he will sign for a dramatically reduced price. But Law, who just began making cuts on his surgically repaired foot, reportedly wants big money.

“The thought is to play the whole scenario out,” Vermeil said, “and the scenario does include a final evaluation of Ty Law in terms of what is actually going to happen from a financial standpoint.

“First off, can he pass the physical? And then we have to find out how much money he’s going to be offered on the open market. If he’s going to be offered big money, then we’re automatically out of it.”

While Law was rehabbing his foot this spring, the Chiefs signed cornerback Patrick Surtain, safety Sammy Knight, linebacker Kendrell Bell and defensive end Carlos Hall. The defense appeared to be complete, but then Julian Battle tore his Achilles’ heel during minicamp June 18.

Battle was running with the first team because starter Eric Warfield may miss at least part of the season due to an NFL suspension.

So the Chiefs brought in four free-agent cornerbacks last week who are nearing the twilight of their careers, and Ambrose, 34, was the most impressive. He started six games last year for the Saints and was a Pro Bowler with the Bengals in 1996. After watching film on Ambrose, a 5-foot-11, 195-pound Louisiana native, Vermeil said it’s obvious he can still play.

Ambrose’s agent, Kennard McGuire, said three teams have shown “a tremendous amount of interest,” but Ambrose is patient and wants to find the right fit.

“He’s been to the Pro Bowl, he’s done extremely well from a contractual standpoint,” McGuire said. “I believe more pressing issue with him is being afforded that opportunity to play with a contender. He feels like this is one of situations he’s been waiting on.”

Ambrose will need patience. Vermeil, who’s vacationing in Pennsylvania, said it’s unclear how long the Chiefs will wait to sign a corner. Training camp starts July 28 in River Falls, Wis.

He said the Chiefs have no immediate plans to bring Law in for a physical.

“I think realistically that we, in the future, will make a move on Ashley,” Vermeil said. “Right now we’ve just decided to be patient and see what happens.”


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He would probably be better than McCleon.

Why would they want Ambrose over Beasley?

Ambrose ripped off his sleeves and grew a beard...

sweet, he was in the pro bowl....a decade ago...anyone got Merton Hanks number?

I have a hard time believing that the oldest guy there looked the best in the tryouts.

I would be a little upset that THIS guy was our favorite, if we needed him for more than 2-4 games.

yep... he can't be worse at least.

The funny thing about this, is that Chiefs tried out Ambrose in the 1999 offseason and decided to go with Chris Dishman instead.

Apparently, Ambrose has improved with age.

I liked Chris Dishman. I remember vividly an interception he took back for a td. Might have been the only one he ever had... but I remember it.

I remember that. I was against the Raiders in Oakland.

No...No...No...No...No...Not Ashley Ambrose! He should retire and hang up those cleets. The guy is done. He was good 8-10 years ago. But that was then, this is now. The guy is bad now, he plays on a bad defense, and is on the worst pass defense in the league. I remember Marvin Harrison and Peyton Manning made him look silly one game. That was a one of the games where Peyton Manning threw for like 6 TD's. Why would the Saints release him? Why would they trade for Mike McKenzie? Cause Ashley Ambrose is not that good. That's all there is to it. What makes this move even worse is, the Saints do have a pretty good defensive line, but, like us, their cover corners we're awful. He could be better than McCleon, I agree with what some of you say, but, not by much. On the other hand, what can we expect from signing a guy for the veteran minimum? These are the type of caliber players we are going to get for cheap I guess.

Ashley Ambrose = Chris Dishman/Ray Crocket....but I guess the price is right. :(

YES! sweet.

Ashley Ambrose - 3 INT's, 22 solo tackles

Eric Warfield - 4 INT's, 43 solo tackles
Dexter McCleon - 2 INT's, 30 solo tackles
William Bartee - 0 INT's, 38 solo tackles

It's all about the $$$.

Did someone say smokescreen?

You have to pay for talent guys.

All of you still living in the wet dream that Ty Law is going to go against everything he has said this whole time and just take the vet minimum and play for the Chiefs need to wake the hell up.

The Chiefs cant afford to add another top flight player, or this offseason with the way it has gone, Im sure they would have.

We got 3 former pro bowlers and the most decorated linebacker in the draft. Thats four top caliber players in one offseason.

Thats way more than ANYONE ever expected from the Chiefs. Anyone else added for depth on this team right now is gravy.

When youre paying the Vet Minimum, youre not going to be adding superstar players. Besides, think about this. Ambrose will be brought in to replace JULIAN BATTLE. A scrub who has done jack so far during his time with the Chiefs, and before the season started was a bit of a longshot to even make the team.

At the very least on this Ambrose deal if it happens, we break even. Im quite sure that Ambrose still has enough talent to match what Julian Battle could have done this season.

Are you trying to say Ty Law?

Very well said. I'd still rather have Beasley, but at this point, even Ambrose is better than what we have.

Ambrose is not that good guys. I guess to get a guy to come in here for cheap, and start 4 games, this is what we have to expect. Very least he's a nickle back now.

Beggars can't be choosers. Would you rather have McCleon start those 4 games? I know I wouldn't.

Battle isnt that good either, but they were going to go with him.

None of the guys out there available are that good. Aaron Beasley was moved from Cornerback to Safety at one point.

Dewayne Washington? Please.

There isnt anyone that is going to knock anyone's socks off available for what the Chiefs can pay.

If Ambrose is the one with the most skill in the workouts, then thats who they will take. In any case, it will still be better than Julian Battle/Dexter Mcleon starting in my opinion.

Not sure what you mean here RB, but yes, I am saying that they are putting it out there that they are interested in other players. They have said that they will not sign him (Law) for what he wants and argue the passing the physical issue.

Maybe it is an honest move, but it may be a smokescreen saying "you aren't going to get a better deal anywhere else".

Personally, I don't want them to sign Law. The injury let alone the chip on his shoulder frightens me.

Will somebody please hold me? :deevee: :)

I think they should only look at depth, because that is what they lost, not a starter. Horrorfield will be the starter once the NFL gets off their @$$ and tell us how many games he is suspended. McCleon will start in place of him, unless they sign somebody significant, which I don't see them doing.

JMO, of course.

Bingo.

They're looking for depth.

Ambrose, at 34, may wear down with the season. But for the first 4 games has the most to offer

We could get Beasley for very cheap. He is still a decent corner. There is no reason to sign Ambrose over Beasley.

When you said smokescreen, i thought you we're referring to this part of the article:

"The thought is to play the whole scanario out, "Vermeil said, "and the scenario does include the final evaluation of Ty Law in terms of what is actually going to happen from a financial standpoint.

"First off, can he pass the physical? And then we have to find out how much money he's going to be offered on the open market. If he's going to be offered big money, then we're automatically out of it."

Except that the coaching staff is saying they think Ambrose will serve their needs better. Other than that...

Nope. i wouldn't. I agree with you there.

Unless of course Ambrose was more impressive than Beasley in the workouts, which is in effect what the article says.

You dont make teams based on past reputation. If Ambrose was the most impressive in the workouts, then that is a damn good reason to go with him over anyone else.

I would take past performance in games over a workout performance.

That's exactly what I mean. they're going to get a guy coming in for cheap, to play for them. I don't expect him to be good. I hope he's a bargain, and surprise. You never know? At the very least I just hope he's better than McCleon and Battle.

I would prefer Beasley. He'll make a quality nickel after Warfield gets back, so he's not just a band-aid, he's a legitimate addition to the team.

Ambrose probably excites me the least. I guess we can line him up against Rod Smith and we'll have a mini Old Timers game right there at Incestco.

I would go with both. Past performances in games and workouts. If Ambrose was good in the workouts, and has game experience for the vet minimum? I guess that is there best shot. He does have a probowl, which is good.

Merton Hanks...HAHAHA!!
ROFL

He can do that wild monkey dance in the end one or whenever he makes a tackle...forget the worm Chiefs Fans!!

Line up Ambrose against Lelie or Rice. Rod Smith has been a Chiefs killer, he must be stopped, and Patrick Surtain is the remedy.

DoooOOOoooOOoooOOOOOOOOoOOOOooommed!!!

DeWayne Washington was able to play in 16 games last year for a good Jax defense.

Yeah, that Rod Smith is a real pain in the ass. I freaking hate seeing #80 on the field against the Chiefs. At least this season we will have someone other than Warfield to try to match up with him.


Ambrose could handle Rice, I dont know if his 34 year old legs could keep up with Lelie all game though. That guy is pretty fast.

Uhhh, Yea. My comment was meant more as a facetious commentary on their age than an actual suggestion for a gameplan. :rolleyes:

This is, of course, all assuming that Warfield is going to be suspended the first 4 games.

There's (supposedly) already rumors floating that the suspension will only be 2 games, which makes me much more comfortable with signing Ambrose.

Like many on this board have already stated, I think the Chiefs are better off the longer this plays out.

I don't think the Chiefs signed Patrick Surtain to line up against Lelie this year do you? :shake:

That's what I thought.

Makes me wonder if maybe the Chiefs have heard something regarding Warfield's suspension (or lack thereof).

Perhaps now they're looking for a nickel replacement (Ambrose) for less money, instead of a potential starter replacement (Washington) that could want more $.

Just a thought......

fwi..Roaf was in that 1996 pro bowl...how amazing is he?

See post #39

Nice that you edited out the part of the quote that makes it a joke. :rolleyes:

:clap:
Most excellent points!

Hey hey....This is Big Willie we're talking here. Mr. Consistency throughtout his whole career. 8, 9, 10 probowls? He's like the Strahan of Offensive lineman..It's Willie man.:D

I would think Beasley is the obvious choice. However, we don't know (1) if Beasley thinks he is worth more than vets minimum, and (2) what kind of shape he is in at this point in the offseason. If Ambrose stayed in great shape, and Beasley let himself go a bit, then AA might have looked like the better CB.

Ambrose can still play. Even if he is signed, I still think they go with McCleon as the starter if Edub is suspended.

Somebody told me that we shouldn't question Carl this offseason.

:p

c'mon - I don't think Willie is that overrated.

I would rather have Ambrose than McCleon or Battle at this point. Battle always looked lost or to anxious and screwed up too much.

I know this Warfield suspension is coming as a surprise to the organization, but....

maybe it would've made sense to draft more than one CB, in case, God forbid, the one that we drafted doesn't pan out.

We used two draft picks on CBs.

Well, that is why we are signing one.

If you listen to 610 Warfield will be suspended, no question. They claim that because the NFL is taking so long to make an announcement that it will probably be a 6 - 8 game suspension. At that point I called them idiots and changed the station only to listen to NASCAR talk.

Look, Woods played 3rd down nickel back a couple of years ago. If this is our 4th corner and Woods still has speed, why not him? He would only be playing in nickel or dime situations, he's already signed and counts against the cap.

610 AM is fine for getting factual updates, but just about everything their broadcasters say is bullshit.

And with our other picks, we were able to get the heir apparent to Gary Stills (Khari Long), a guy who can backup Casey Clausen in NFLE next spring (James Kilian), a guy who played defense in college but will try to switch to either TE or OT (Will Svitek), and a WR who we'll be lucky to keep on the practice squad (Crap Thorpe).

But why draft any more CB's when you already have Julien Battle.

The obvious answer is so we can complain about it here on Chiefsplanet.

We gave up a draft pick for Surtain. We drafted Hodge and we already had Warfield, Battle, McCleon, and Sapp. I think they did a good job in the off-season. I don't see why you are being so hard on the FO, when they addressed the issues. Nobody could have predicted a serious injury to Battle.

No WAY that will happen.

one upside about Ambrose is that i think he will help teach our younger guys.

Don't waste your time. Nothing is ever good enough for shane.

I'm sure it's completely lost on him that about 95% of all rookie CB's aren't ready to start opening day of their first season, so it wouldn't matter if we drafted SEVEN CB's, we'd still be looking for someone to sub for Warfield...

... how to fill out AARP paperwork.

ROFL

We lost a 2nd for Vermeil.

Never say "never" when you're talking about Taglibue's unadulterated hatred for the Chiefs...

LOL...you have learned well.

I got money Warfield isn't even suspended.....

Oooh. How much?

pt wants in on this action.

One nickel...

You're on. It will be nice to have you spend 37 cents to send me my nickel.

BRING BACK DALE CARTER!!!!

I guess I could've complained about signing Ambrose over Beasley, but I already saw at least three posts by you on this thread which covered that. So I thought I'd complain about something else.

Notice the we my fellow Chiefsplanet member.

Oh the irony! Warfield gets suspended for his third drinking and driving offense so we sign a guy who's intitials are AA. :)


PhilFree:arrow:

Back when free agency started, most people here said we needed two starting-caliber CB's because of Warfield's impending suspension. Most wanted a combination of Law, Surtain, Rolle, Andre Dyson, Ken Lucas, Carlos Rogers, Pac Man, Antrel Rolle, etc. We only got 1 starter from that group.

Most also agreed we needed two starting-caliber LB's. We got Bell, missed out on Hartwell, but recovered by getting DJ.

So IMO, CP got 3 out of 4 needs filled. I'll give him a 75% grade for this offseason. JMO. Had he not spent money last year on Woods, Bartee, and Hicks, maybe we could've had enough money to sign Dyson or Dwight Smith as a safety net for Warfield's suspension.

I personally liked Sapp he showed me more than Battle anyway.

Dave

To be honest I had no idea we were counting on Battle to start if Warfield was out. He showed nothing last season to warrant a feeling of security from the FO, IMO. Battle must have really been tearing up the OTA's.

In the last 5 years Surtain & Warfield have both just missed 4 games a piece. Once the suspension is over the chance of one of these guys starting is not so good. Just because they all came in on the free trip, does not mean the are all willing to play backup

To be honest, the guys they signed last year were old Gunther players. The general opinion last year was that weeding out Robinson's players ,his coaching influence and having Gunther work with his old crew would be sufficient to elevate the D.

Obviously it didn't work, but it was clear that there was a two year plan to fix the D - year one was keeping existing players to see who could still play or pick up Gunther's system, year two plugging the holes. Unfortunately there were a lot more holes than they probably thought existed.

I give them an A- this offseason. The minus is for not giving up a 6th round pick for Cowart to play MLB or backup the position.

:clap: that sounds just right!

And if you graded on a curve for the chiefs in the last 10 years you would have to say that this offseason was a A+, this is the first time in a long time that I felt that the FO did a good job with the DRAFT, FA combined.