ASHBURN, Va. (ABC 4 Sports) - It has not exactly been a storybook beginning to John Beck's NFL career. The former BYU star has bounced around to three different teams since he was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in 2007. But it looks like Beck is going to get a chance to become the starter for the Washington Redskins, who opened training camp today.
"It was good," said Beck after practice. "We've been anticipating this day for a long time, to go out and practice with the team with coaches there and being able to get it on tape. Things felt pretty good. We got to see where we're at as a team and the things we have to work on."
When Beck left BYU in 2006 as the school's 3rd all-time leader in passing yards with 11,059, it seemed he would catch on quickly in the NFL. That hasn't happened. Beck was thrown into the fire on a horrible Miami Dolphins team in 2007. He started four games for Miami, throwing just one touchdown pass, three interceptions and was sacked ten times.
Beck was then traded to the Baltimore Ravens, before landing in Washington in 2010. But head coach Mike Shanahan thought enough of Beck to trade Donovan McNabb and crown Beck the starter. But is a guy who hasn't played in a regular season game since 2007 ready to become a true leader?
"Well, that's what I want to be," said Beck. "I'm trying to do the very best I can and to start by example. Try to be the guy that's the first one out, try to do things right. I think the biggest thing that we're trying to do is have a good tempo in practice. To execute our plays a high level and to get a lot done. But when we do get a lot done, it's doing it right."
Becks' teammates were impressed after the first day of practice.
"I saw some accuracy, a good arm and some leadership," said wide receiver Anthony Armstrong. "But that's the same thing I've been seeing all summer. I have high expectations for him."
Because of the NFL lockout, Beck hasn't had much time to mesh with his teammates. But he doesn't see that as being a problem that lingers through camp.
"There's a little bit of that because, although we were able to spend a couple of weeks with guys in the off-season, it's not the same type of chemistry that we had with some guys that we've thrown to before," said Beck. "But it's good to get to learn these guys right now."
And we'll all learn if Beck is finally ready to become a starting NFL quarterback.
