| | By John Clayton
ESPN.com
A few weeks ago, Atlanta Falcons cornerbacks Ray Buchanan and Ashley Ambrose went to the movie, "Me, Myself and Irene." Just like the Jim Carrey character,
Buchanan and Ambrose felt as though they have seven personalities among them.
|  | | Ashley Ambrose is thrilled to be reunited with Ray Buchanan. |
"We started clowning around and saying we both have split personalities," Ambrose said. "When Ray is acting silly, I call him Simon. When I'm acting
silly, he calls me Nelson."
Buchanan and Ambrose have been downright silly since they reunited in the Falcons secondary during the offseason. From 1993 to 1995, they were young,
immature pups in the Colts defensive backfield. They were learning the game and simply best friends. The NFL stands for "Not For Long," and thanks to free agency,
what could have been the Colts' cornerback tandem of the 1990s was broken up by free agency.
"With free agency, it's kinda tough to keep everybody around," Buchanan said. "At that time, (former Colts general manager) Bill Tobin had salary
cap problems.I felt they should have kept Ashley around and signed him to a long-term contract. But I guess they didn't feel he was deserving of the
money he was asking for.
"He proved them wrong the following years and ended up going to the Pro Bowl. I guess things worked out for the best, though."
Isn't it fitting that their first game together will be an exhibition game against the Colts on Saturday? After leaving the Colts, they matured into tight coverage cornerbacks who have gone to the Pro Bowl. Ambrose came to the Falcons from New Orleans after signing a five-year, $22.5 million contract.
Maturity on the field doesn't translate into their off-the-field demeanor. They love acting immature.
Buchanan is the prankster. They'll meet at movies, but if they don't arrive at the same time, Buchanan has to make an entrance.
"I'll be sitting in the movie and he'll come in yelling, 'Ashley, where you at, where you at? I'm looking for you, boy?' " Ambrose said.
Separately or together, they enjoy making scenes. Ambrose described that once he faked a fall out of his truck in which he was on the ground with his
feet in the truck. Buchanan laughs at some dances he has seen Ambrose, normally known as the quieter of the two, test out.
"He's like a go-go dancer," Buchanan said. "It looks like he can strip."
Sure, it's silly stuff, but cornerbacks in the NFC West need to be a little off center for their sanity. The Rams attack corners with their
fast-paced offense. Long-term cornerbacks in the division all have been singed while trying to cover Jerry Rice of the 49ers.
Buchanan suffered the most indignities last season. As a Pro Bowler who lacked a coverage corner on the other side of the field, Buchanan was asked
to stick with the opponent's best receiver. To make matters tougher, quarterbacks would send that receiver in motion, make Buchanan run all over
the field and then put him in position to be beaten.
With Ambrose in the nix, the Falcons can match two top cover guys against an opponent's best receivers and Buchanan can stick to one side of the
field.
"Ray was isolated out there," Falcons coach Dan Reeves admitted.
Now, he's together with his best friend. Including Simon and Nelson, Buchanan and Ambrose feel as though they can match up against the best four
receivers the Rams send out.
John Clayton is ESPN.com's senior NFL writer. | |
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