West Virginia daily

University of Miami cornerback Antrel Rolle got an interesting lesson in the business of the NFL draft and just how cutthroat it can be.

Rolle was the eighth overall pick in the first round of the annual selection process, going to Arizona as the second overall cornerback -- and second defensive player -- selected.

But there was intrigue for Rolle throughout the entire process, including a look at the skullduggery of the process as he spent Saturday in the waiting room of the Jacob Javits Center. In the weeks leading up to the draft, Rolle got word that the agent of another player had sent e-mails to NFL teams regarding Rolle's arrest in July 2004 for battery against a police officer in Miami.

The charge eventually was dropped when it was ruled that the contact between Rolle and the officer was ''merely incidental'' and because of Rolle's ''post-arrest contrition and lack of criminal history.'' In addition, a version of the story in The Seattle Times noted that Rolle's father is the chief of police in Homestead.

However, when the message was sent to teams, the explanations of incidental contact, contrition and lack of criminal history were left out. Rather, the only part mentioned was about his father's job.

''Yeah, I heard about it,'' Rolle said. ``Whoever was cutting and pasting that article changed it. . . .

``No, it doesn't surprise me. That's the name of the game. Some people can take that and some people can't.''

Whether that message had anything to do with Rolle going at No. 8 instead of to Tennessee at No. 6 is questionable. The Titans selected cornerback Adam ''Pac-Man'' Jones of West Virginia instead. Tennessee was impressed by Jones' return ability.

In fact, that seemed to be a constant emphasis for the Titans when they called the University of Miami to ask about Rolle. The Titans asked numerous times why Rolle didn't return punts more and how good he was when he did.

The fact that the Hurricanes had highly regarded return men Roscoe Parrish and Devin Hester seemed to be lost on the Titans. Rolle, who returned one punt for a touchdown during his time at UM, is looking forward to the challenge.

''I love punt returns,'' Rolle said. ``Unfortunately, we had Roscoe this year, so I didn't get a chance to return punts. But at the next level, that's something I'm definitely going to be looking into.''

What Rolle was looking into for the past couple of days was all the scenarios involving where he might go. There was talk that San Francisco or Miami might trade down and take him. There was talk that Cleveland might select him if they were unable to get quarterback Alex Smith or wide receiver Braylon Edwards. (Smith was chosen first by the 49ers, and Edwards third by the Browns.)

Then there was the Tennessee situation. The Titans had made little secret around the NFL of their desire to get a cornerback. The assumption for quite some time was that it would be Rolle.

''That's exactly why I don't read the media,'' Rolle said. ``It can really play tricks on you.''

Rolle and agent Ben Dogra got word Friday that the Titans were leaning toward Jones.

''It was supposed to be really close,'' Dogra said. ``They said it was a coin flip and it was probably the return part of it that tipped it for Jones.''

That left Rolle and his family squirming a bit in the waiting room. In the end, however, Rolle had found an NFL home.

''It's a dream come true,'' Rolle said. ``This is something I've been dreaming about since I was 6 years old. This is the only thing I ever really wanted to do.''

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