“You’ve got to be patient in those aspects of the game,” Green said, explaining why the missed time didn’t bother him. “It can’t. I mean, we’re just happy that everybody’s reached agreement. I think he’ll be pleased with his contract, and as long as it’s a fair deal, then I think we can live with it.”

Green said the 6-foot, 206-pound rookie would have five practices before Saturday’s exhibition opener against the Dallas Cowboys in Tempe, Ariz., and would see action in the game, possibly in nickel defenses.

“He did have all the team organized workouts and minicamps and all those other things, so he’ll play. I don’t know how much,” Green said.

Financial terms were not immediately available, but Rolle, the No. 8 pick in April, was taken between wide receiver Troy Williamson and cornerback Carlos Rogers. Williamson signed a deal with Minnesota that could be worth up to $32 million over five years, including $13.3 million in guaranteed money. Rogers got a five-year, $17.45 million contract from Washington.

Rolle’s agent, Ben Dogra, held Baltimore’s Mark Clayton out of the Ravens’ camp for five days to get the first-round pick guaranteed money and an escalator clause.

Dogra did not return phone calls made to his office by The Associated Press.

Rod Graves, the Cardinals vice president of football operations, declined to discuss escalator clauses or whether the contract was backloaded, but said the sixth year was needed to reach agreement and was not inserted as “a void structure.”

“Basically it was a structure that we had to have in order to accommodate all we were trying to accomplish with this deal,” Graves said.

Green believes Rolle has the talent and background with the Hurricanes to get acclimated in the NFL.

“He’s a terrific player, and I think he’ll make up ground very quickly,” the coach said.

Once up to speed, Rolle is expected to start at left cornerback.

Paired with right cornerback David Macklin, he should give the Cardinals their most solid secondary since Aeneas Williams and a healthy Tom Knight played for them in the late ’90s.

Macklin thought that was possible — with a caution.

“It’s always good to be compared with guys that have been in the Pro Bowl like Aeneas, but my goal is to be the type of player I want to be,” he said. “Hopefully Antrel can come along and we can put together a good duo, but nothing is done yet and we have to continue to work.”

Rolle is the first cornerback the Cardinals have selected in the first round since Knight in 1997 and only the second in 30 years.

He was one of four freshmen to letter for Miami in 2001. He finished his career with 183 tackles (129 solo), five interceptions, 4½ sacks, three fumble recoveries and 21 deflections.

His only career high last season was assisted tackles, a sign of how opposing offenses stayed away from his side of the field. In 2003, Rolle held Pittsburgh’s Larry Fitzgerald to a season-low three catches. Fitzgerald was Arizona’s first-round selection last year and is now a teammate.

“We’re excited,” Green said. “We feel Antrel is a tremendous player, really one of the classiest guys in the draft.”

Diggs out with torn knee ligament
Green Bay Packers linebacker Na’il Diggs has a partially torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee and will miss at least two weeks.

Diggs left practice Monday on a cart after a pileup during 11-on-11 team drills. An MRI exam Tuesday confirmed the slight tear.

“There’s still concern, because he’s not back out here,” coach Mike Sherman said Tuesday. “At the same time, it’s not a surgical issue, which certainly is an advantage for us and for him. I’m grateful for that.”

General manager Ted Thompson was somewhat relieved by the diagnosis.

“I don’t think it’s serious,” Thompson said. “The good news is it’s not a worst case scenario.”

With Diggs out and potential replacement Raynoch Thompson missing both practices to rest a swollen knee, the Packers’ No. 1 linebacker unit consisted of Hannibal Navies on the weak side, Nick Barnett in the middle and Paris Lenon on the strong side.

The Packers are already without injured rookie linebackers Brady Poppinga (hamstring) and Kurt Campbell (knee), so defensive coordinator Jim Bates said the remaining healthy linebackers will have to learn multiple positions.

Some will have to play at least two spots during Thursday’s preseason opener at Lambeau Field against San Diego.

“That’s the only way we’ll be able to go this week with the lack of numbers,” Bates said.

Wide receiver Javon Walker returned to practice Tuesday morning after injuring his left hamstring Sunday. He caught two deep passes, one from Brett Favre and one from Craig Nall, before sitting out the afternoon.

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