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SBYRD5 · 04-25-2004, 06:27 PM

[b][i][color=navy]<span style='font-size:12pt;line-height:100%'>Updated: 04:32 AM EDT
Ex-NFL Player Tillman Killed in Afghanistan Firefight
Had Joined Army Rangers Following Sept. 11 Attacks
By BOB BAUM, AP SPORTS

WASHINGTON (April 23) -- Pat Tillman walked away from millions in the NFL to fight for his country in Afghanistan.

He paid with his life.

The former Arizona Cardinals safety was killed Thursday night in a firefight while on combat patrol. A specialist with the elite Army Rangers, he was 27.

"He is a hero," Cardinals vice president Michael Bidwill said. "He was a brave man. There are very few people who have the courage to do what he did, the courage to walk away from a professional sports career and make the ultimate sacrifice."

Lt. Col. Matt Beevers, a spokesman for the U.S. military in Kabul, said a soldier was killed by anti-coalition militia forces about 25 miles from a U.S. military base at Khost, the site of frequent attacks.

The Department of Defense confirmed Tillman's death Friday night, stating in a news release that he was killed in Afghanistan "when his patrol vehicle came under attack." It did not provide details.

The White House praised Tillman as "an inspiration both on and off the football field."

The 5-foot-11, 200-pound Tillman was an overachiever as an athlete. Too slow to be a great safety, too small for an NFL linebacker, he got by on toughness and effort.

Those attributes undoubtedly served him well in the Army Rangers, whom he joined in May 2002 after abandoning his career with the Cardinals. He moved from a violent game to the reality of war.

"Pat Tillman personified all the best values of his country and the NFL," commissioner Paul Tagliabue said. "He was an achiever and leader on many levels who always put his team, his community, and his country ahead of his personal interests."

Tillman was the first NFL player killed in combat since Buffalo offensive tackle Bob Kalsu died in the Vietnam War in July 1970. Nineteen NFL players were killed in World War II.

Some 110 U.S. soldiers have died -- 39 of them in combat -- during Operation Enduring Freedom, which began in Afghanistan in late 2001.

Denver quarterback Jake Plummer was a teammate of Tillman for seven years, three at Arizona State and four with the Cardinals.

"We lost a unique individual that touched the lives of many with his love for life, his toughness, his intellect," Plummer said in a statement released by the Broncos. "Pat Tillman lived life to the fullest and will be remembered forever in my heart and mind."

In college, Tillman was a long-haired wild man on the field, an all-Pac-10 linebacker always going full speed. Bone-jarring hits were his trademark.

He and Plummer led the Sun Devils to the 1997 Rose Bowl. The next season, Tillman was the Pac-10 defensive player of the year. He graduated summa laude in December 1997 with a marketing degree and a 3.84 grade-point average.

The Cardinals took Tillman in the seventh round of the 1998 draft, the 226th player chosen. At first, he made his mark on special teams but played his way into a starting spot at safety.

In 2000, he broke the franchise record for tackles with 224. He had 12 solo tackles, and a hand in 21 overall, in a 16-15 victory over Washington that season.

In practice, coaches often had to make Tillman slow down so he wouldn't hurt anybody in drills that weren't supposed to be full speed. Slowing down was always tough for him.

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04-25-2004, 06:27 PM	#11
SBYRD5 Banned Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 6,549 Post Thanks / Like Thanks (Given): 0 Thanks (Received): 0 Likes (Given): 0 Likes (Received): 0 Dislikes (Given): 0 Dislikes (Received): 0 Points: 0 Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s) Quoted: 0 Post(s)	[b][i][color=navy]<span style='font-size:12pt;line-height:100%'>Updated: 04:32 AM EDT Ex-NFL Player Tillman Killed in Afghanistan Firefight Had Joined Army Rangers Following Sept. 11 Attacks By BOB BAUM, AP SPORTS WASHINGTON (April 23) -- Pat Tillman walked away from millions in the NFL to fight for his country in Afghanistan. He paid with his life. The former Arizona Cardinals safety was killed Thursday night in a firefight while on combat patrol. A specialist with the elite Army Rangers, he was 27. "He is a hero," Cardinals vice president Michael Bidwill said. "He was a brave man. There are very few people who have the courage to do what he did, the courage to walk away from a professional sports career and make the ultimate sacrifice." Lt. Col. Matt Beevers, a spokesman for the U.S. military in Kabul, said a soldier was killed by anti-coalition militia forces about 25 miles from a U.S. military base at Khost, the site of frequent attacks. The Department of Defense confirmed Tillman's death Friday night, stating in a news release that he was killed in Afghanistan "when his patrol vehicle came under attack." It did not provide details. The White House praised Tillman as "an inspiration both on and off the football field." The 5-foot-11, 200-pound Tillman was an overachiever as an athlete. Too slow to be a great safety, too small for an NFL linebacker, he got by on toughness and effort. Those attributes undoubtedly served him well in the Army Rangers, whom he joined in May 2002 after abandoning his career with the Cardinals. He moved from a violent game to the reality of war. "Pat Tillman personified all the best values of his country and the NFL," commissioner Paul Tagliabue said. "He was an achiever and leader on many levels who always put his team, his community, and his country ahead of his personal interests." Tillman was the first NFL player killed in combat since Buffalo offensive tackle Bob Kalsu died in the Vietnam War in July 1970. Nineteen NFL players were killed in World War II. Some 110 U.S. soldiers have died -- 39 of them in combat -- during Operation Enduring Freedom, which began in Afghanistan in late 2001. Denver quarterback Jake Plummer was a teammate of Tillman for seven years, three at Arizona State and four with the Cardinals. "We lost a unique individual that touched the lives of many with his love for life, his toughness, his intellect," Plummer said in a statement released by the Broncos. "Pat Tillman lived life to the fullest and will be remembered forever in my heart and mind." In college, Tillman was a long-haired wild man on the field, an all-Pac-10 linebacker always going full speed. Bone-jarring hits were his trademark. He and Plummer led the Sun Devils to the 1997 Rose Bowl. The next season, Tillman was the Pac-10 defensive player of the year. He graduated summa laude in December 1997 with a marketing degree and a 3.84 grade-point average. The Cardinals took Tillman in the seventh round of the 1998 draft, the 226th player chosen. At first, he made his mark on special teams but played his way into a starting spot at safety. In 2000, he broke the franchise record for tackles with 224. He had 12 solo tackles, and a hand in 21 overall, in a 16-15 victory over Washington that season. In practice, coaches often had to make Tillman slow down so he wouldn't hurt anybody in drills that weren't supposed to be full speed. Slowing down was always tough for him. More on This Story