MESA, ARIZ. ? You don’t have to be Dr. Doolittle to hear a jackass talk.

All you had to do Friday was turn on the radio.

Former Arizona Cardinal and newly crowned Super Bowl champ Simeon Rice used Friday’s edition of the Jim Rome radio show — that great bastion of intellectual discourse — to share his bizarre views on former teammate Pat Tillman, who gave up his NFL career to become a Ranger in the U.S. Army 10 months ago.

Tillman, now stationed at Fort Lewis, Wash., could be among troops deployed as the U.S. moves ever closer to war with Iraq.

So when Rome asked Rice for his take on Tillman, it seemed like an innocent enough question.

After all, Tillman’s decision to sacrifice the pampered lifestyle of a pro athlete to take up arms in defense of his country had drawn universal praise from fans and non-fans alike.

Rice’s reaction? So what.

“He really wasn’t that good, not really,” Rice told Rome. “Money is not everything. He really wasn’t good enough to start in the NFL. Hell no. He was good enough to play in Arizona, (but) that’s just like the XFL.”

If we can step into the frightening void that is Simeon Rice’s mind, we can deduce the following, based on Rice’s comments:

Only the best NFL players are worthy of praise, capable of meaningful sacrifice, deserving of praise.

And since Pat Tillman was not among the NFL’s elite players, really, how big a deal is it?

Rome, no doubt stunned by Rice’s odd views, gave Rice repeated chances to let the magnitude of Tillman’s decision sink in.

Finally, Rice seemed to get it. Sort of.

“I think it’s very admirable, actually,” Rice said. “In all seriousness, I think it’s admirable. Everybody can’t think on that level. He’s definitely on a whole other level. You’ve gotta give kudos to a guy like that because he did it for his own reasons. Maybe it’s the Rambo movies, maybe it’s Sylvester Stallone, Rocky, whatever compels him. Maybe it’s the 9-11 tragedy. Kudos to him. I hope he does well.”

You can put aside Rice’s pathological need to take shots at the Cardinals, even though things have worked out quite well for Rice with Tampa Bay. You can dismiss Rice’s dim view of Tillman’s talents as a player.

But what should not be ignored is Rice’s pathetic need to categorize Tillman’s decision as the effects of watching too many action-hero movies. Perhaps the self-absorbed Rice cannot fathom the concepts of patriotism or selflessness.

When word of Rice’s outburst reached the Cardinals complex, one team official put it succinctly:

“Who would you rather have in your foxhole: Pat Tillman or Simeon Rice?”