“I take everything as a sign,” the veteran cornerback said.

Those signs seem to point to the end of his Chiefs career. Warfield has a fat contract, making him an inviting target for a team with serious salary-cap problems.

He also hasn’t talked since the end of the season with new coach Herm Edwards, president/general manager Carl Peterson or defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham, a silence that would appear to say plenty.

Now, he’s just waiting for word, one way or another.

“That’s something for the team to decide. This is an occupation where you’ve got to keep yourself prepared at all times. That’s all I can do is keep myself prepared, no matter what they decide to do.”

The Chiefs can realize a salary-cap savings of more than $2 million by releasing Warfield.

That sum could come in handy as the Chiefs fight to get below the NFL’s salary limit, which they initially expected to be about $95 million.