PHOENIX – Pat Tillman had a nice career going as the Phoenix Cardinals strong safety with an offer of more than $1 million a year to return. As dangerous as football can be, it’s a lot safer than what he’s doing now.

He gave up football nearly a year ago to join the elite Army Rangers. So instead of being at the Cardinals facility in Tempe, Ariz., this week for the start of their offseason conditioning program, he was many miles away.

About three weeks ago, Tillman and his brother Kevin, a former minor league baseball player with the Indians, were deployed to the Middle East.

“When I did hear that Pat had been deployed over there, it touches you pretty deep. It triggers a lot of emotions,” Cardinals coach Dave McGinnis said at the NFL meetings. “I know Pat and his brother have made the ultimate decision, as a lot of our young men and women have, to be over there and protecting our country. It touched you pretty deep, it really does.

“Pat Tillman is a guy that is full of fiber, full of fabric, everything he does goes right to the core of what is good and sound in our country. Every time that he went across those white lines for me, I knew that I was going to give everything he had. That’s what he will do for our country, too.”

Tillman, 26, was a seventh-round pick from Arizona State in 1998.

He made a team-record 224 tackles in 2000, and out of loyalty to the organization refused to sign a five-year, $9.8 million offer sheet with the Rams after the season.

A year ago, Arizona offered Tillman a three-year, $3.6 million deal. But football was not what he had on his mind. His agent, Frank Bauer, said the events of Sept. 11 deeply affected him.

“He said, “I’m going to do something about it,’ ” Bauer said. “That’s just the way Pat thinks.”

Tillman and his brother enlisted and, after training at Fort Benning, Ga., had been stationed at Fort Lewis, Wash., until they were recently deployed.

“I wish him well and he is where he wants to be,” Cardinals owner Bill Bidwill said. “He’s a very smart, intelligent, quick, earnest person. This is what he wanted to do and he’s doing it.”

Bauer said Tillman wants to resume his NFL career after his three-year commitment is up. He told Bauer he will make his money then. For now, his Army pay is between $1,022 and $1,433 per month.

McGinnis said he’s “extremely proud” of Tillman for following his convictions.

“Pat’s decision was one that was made with honor, integrity and dignity and it just brings to the front now the gravity of his decision and what he did,” McGinnis said. “The admiration that I have for him and all our young men and women that are over there is incredible.”

Tillman’s name came up as the Cardinals went through their workout Monday. “To see somebody go over in the war and do the things he’s doing, that’s outstanding,” Arizona linebacker Ronald McKinnon said. “He’s doing something for his country and I’m proud of him. During 9/11, it touched Pat so much.”

Bauer said Tillman didn’t want to sign the three-year deal with the Cardinals because he would be 28 when it was up and Tillman said he would be too old for the Rangers.

Now Bauer worries about Tillman.

“He is a very focused, intelligent, young man who is a highly principled person, a very loyal person,” Bauer said. “He’s just a unique kind of guy; where people follow, Pat leads. Pat has always been that way. He’s just one of those guys that really enjoys a challenge.”