FORT BENNING, Ga. -- Former NFL player Pat Tillman is used to pushing his body to the limit with grueling training in the summer heat. This summer, though, he will be sweating it out as an Army recruit.


Pat Tillman played four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals.


Tillman, the 25-year-old starting safety for the Arizona Cardinals, turned down a $3.6 million contract for $18,000 a year and an uncertain quest to become an Army Ranger.

Tillman, who has rejected all interview requests to talk about his decision, began basic training Monday at this base in southwest Georgia, joining his younger brother, who enlisted with him.

"In Pat Tillman's view of the world, football is a part of it, but there are a lot of other things that are important to him," said Lyle Setencich, Tillman's linebacker coach at Arizona State.

Money doesn't seem to be important to him at all. Last year, he turned down a $9 million, five-year offer from the Super Bowl champion St. Louis Rams so he could stay with the perennial losing Cardinals for less money. This year, he turned down the Cardinals three-year, $3.6 million contract to join the Army.

"He said there were personal reasons he didn't want to divulge to me, and I didn't press him on it," Cardinals coach Dave McGinnis said. "I respect his decision. I think it's honorable."

Observers questioned his sanity, but that's nothing new for Tillman, who used to meditate atop a 200-foot light tower above Arizona State's stadium.

"If you don't know Pat, then you would think he's crazy," said Phil Snow, who coached Tillman as Arizona State's defensive coordinator. "The planes flew so close to him that he could damn near reach out and touch them. He's just fearless."