Will There Be Another Big Off-Season Move?

After the New Orleans Saints drafted Ricky Williams with their only draft choice last weekend, Saints management promised they would make a big splash in free agency to offset their lack of draft picks. It looks like they are keeping their word.

Saints officials have acknowledged that they have been in contact with the agent for Cincinnati Bengal cornerback Ashley Ambrose since before the draft. The Saints are looking to upgrade their secondary and Ambrose would be a major step towards that goal.

Ambrose, a New Orleans native, has played with the Indianapolis Colts and the Cincinnati Bengals during his seven year NFL career. He was selected by the Indianapolis Colts with their second round pick (29th overall) in the 1992 NFL draft. The 5-10, 192 lb. corner was selected to the Pro Bowl following the 1997 season. In that year Ambrose played in all sixteen games for the Bengals, making 59 tackles and one sack, intercepting 3 passes and breaking up another 26. In 1998 his production tailed off to appearing in only 15 games, making 40 tackles, intercepting 2 passes and breaking up another 15.

Ambrose became a free agent after the '98 season after the Bengals chose to use their franchise tag on his teammate Carl Pickens. After Dale Carter signed his huge contract with the Denver Broncos, Ambrose's asking price went up to $5 million per season. Since that time he has lowered his contract demands to between $3 and $4 million for a one-year contract. Several teams are interested in his services, including the Atlanta Falcons.

In addition to Ambrose, Saints officials have also been in contact with the agent for Arizona outside linebacker Jamir Miller. Talks are only in the preliminary stages at this point and no meetings have been set as of yet.

Miller is coming off of his best season, in which he made 113 tackles, 3 sacks and forced 2 fumbles. The 25-year old Miller is 6-foot-4-inches and weighs 242 pounds. He was selected in the first round (10th overall) of the 1994 NFL draft by the Arizona Cardinals. One note of caution with Miller, however, is that earlier in his career he has twice failed NFL administered drug tests. If he tests positive for drugs once more he could be suspended for life under the NFL's anti-drug policy.