Beck: "A chance, all I want is a chance"
John Beck arrives in Baltimore on Sunday where he’ll formally sign a contract that was put together last Thursday for him to play for the Ravens.
I spoke to Beck Thursday and Friday for work on a column that ran on Saturday. When the Dolphins drafted Pat White last week, John was the one that asked for a meeting which resulted in him being put on waivers. It was a “win-win” for both the Dolphins and Beck.
When he left the building, Bill Parcells walked out with him, put his arm on his shoulder and said, “Not every situation you get into turns out to be a good situation for you. Sometimes it is and this was not good for you. You just now go forward and put yourself in the best position you can.” And he wished him well.
The Dolphins appreciate the fact Beck never complained, never bad-mouthed the new management or coaching staff. He took his lumps as they went after their own quarterbacks and established the pecking order they wanted — which didn’t include him.
Beck told me he received money from the Dolphins upon his departure. “It was not money (salary) for in-season. It was for the other parts of the contract owed me (signing bonus, etc.).
The Ravens and Jags had the same offer on the table for his services. Because he passed waivers, they had only to sign him for the minimum salary of a third-year player and it is a one-year contract.
“I feel good about it because it gives me an opportunity to be with the Ravens for a season, challenge for a position, see where I end up and then make a choice if I want to stay or go somewhere else in a year. I think that makes sense and neither party is tied to a long-term situation.
“But everything about going to the Ravens makes sense for me. The biggest thing is I’ve got people in the organization who know me and believe in me and will give me a chance to compete. That’s all you can ask for is a chance to compete. If you don’t have that chance, then it can get discouraging.”
Beck’s wife Barbara will arrive in Baltimore on Tuesday and start looking for an apartment. The couple will sell their house in a suburb of nearby Miami as soon as possible.
Beck said when he agreed to be a Raven last Thursday, it came after a lot of homework on his part. He called Chad Lewis, a Cougar tight end that played for Philadelphia and worked with then offensive coordinator John Harbaugh, now the Raven’s coach. He called a dozen people to get their input, including Max Hall who played for Dirk Koetter at ASU. Koetter is now the OC at Jacksonville.
Everything pointed to Baltimore as the place and the biggest factor may have been reuniting with Cam Cameron, the former Dolphin head coach who is now the Raven OC under Harbaugh.
Last Thursday, Beck said he took out the play book Cameron had when at the Dolphins and started reviewing plays and terminology.
“I like the idea that I know his system. That makes a huge difference. At Jacksonville, I’d be learning a new system.”
He also likes the idea that he’ll be on a team with former Mesa Mountain View teammate Todd Heap. His wife and John know each other from high school. Also on the team is linebacker Terrell Suggs, who played high school in Arizona the same years Beck played in Mesa. John beat out Suggs for Arizona Player of the Year and many times including the awards banquet, he talked in-depth to Suggs and got to know him. Same thing with occasional meetings with Haloti Ngata, a Raven DT.
He’s looking forward to getting to now former Ute Paul Kruger who the Ravens drafted in the second round.
An interesting note: Beck is represented by the “Athlete’s First” agency. This is the same representation that Heap and Ray Lewis have signed with. It is also the agency that handles contracts for Pat White (Dolphin draftee), Chad Henne (Dolphin 2008 QB draftee), and former USC QB Mark Sanchez.