The first part of his story is similar, sort of, to Drew Brees; a second-round guy never fully embraced by the team that drafted him. John Beck is hoping he can now duplicate the second half of Brees’ tale. Yes, the Redskins would be happy if he did that as well. Yes, it takes a leap of faith to say he could.
Trying to duplicate Brees’ success is why Beck started working out with the former NFL MVP and Super Bowl champion in the offseason three years ago, prompted by former Miami coach Cam Cameron. Aaron Rodgers also works out with them.
While Rodgers was a first-round pick who had to sit behind Brett Favre, Brees was a second-rounder who started for his original team, San Diego, only to see the Chargers later draft Philip Rivers in the first round. Then they let him walk via free agency.
Beck relates; he was cut by Miami after two seasons – and one coaching change – and then traded by Baltimore to the Redskins last August. He’ll turn 30 in August and his four career starts came with the 1-15 Dolphins as a rookie in 1997. A big difference: Brees started 58 games in five seasons with San Diego and threw 80 touchdown passes. But in terms of acceptance Beck compares their paths.
“I find myself in a similar situation [to Brees],” Beck said, “where someone will say, ‘You haven’t been on a field for three years in a regular season game, how are you going to do it?’ Well, that’s the same thing they told Drew. It’s good to be around a guy like that. The one thing through all of this is, my belief in being a starter I never questioned that. Never once did I let my head think maybe I’m just one of those guys who is a lifelong backup.”
Beck and Rex Grossman were the only quarterbacks attending the Redskins players-only minicamp at an undisclosed location. Grossman is a free agent who might return.
“There’s so much uncertainty,” Grossman said. “I’ve got a few things in my mind I hope happen. I’ll be ready with whatever scenario comes about.”
Meanwhile, Beck is under contract. They both know the Redskins might draft a quarterback. It would be hard for the Redskins to invest 100 percent faith in either guy at this stage of their career. But they both know that any rookie quarterback will have a difficult time winning a starting job if there’s a long lockout.
“I don’t have to rely on that for motivation,” Beck said. “There’s a lot of things that motivate me already. That’s the business. If you don’t have a franchise guy, they’re going to be looking for a franchise guy. To be a championship ballclub you have to be a franchise quarterback. No team goes to the Super Bowl and wins if they don’t have that guy.
“It could impact me, but I [couldn’t] care less. It’s their choice. I have no control.”
Beck struggled when he arrived in August, having to digest a new offense and still somehow look sharp in preseason games. An entire offseason working with the coaches was needed; instead, he’s left to dissect game tapes, go over more of the playbook and heed the lessons of others. During the season he compensated for only working with the scout team by staying late on Tuesdays to study film and by working with other scout teamers on their day off.
“I came in the league with the belief that I can be a franchise quarterback,” Beck said, “and that’s the belief I still hold today.”
