Beck embraces expectations

PROVO — Might as well step into a pressure cooker again.

John Beck, who was drafted by Miami in the second round of Saturday's NFL Draft, has already set a goal to try and fill the shoes of Dan Marino for Dolphin fans.

The BYU quarterback who surpassed Jim McMahon and Steve Young on the Cougar all-time passing chart is well-versed in the job ahead. That includes challenging injured veteran Daunte Culpepper and helping the Fish improve on a 6-10 mark and last-place finish in the AFC East.

Beck loves the idea of Miami.

"I just felt it would be a great fit if it happened," Beck said. "The Detroit Lions were talking so much to me, it was hard to know who'd be the one to do it. But when I got the phone call and it was from Miami and I talked to the coach, it was such a relief to know where I'm going."

The Dolphins drafted Beck No. 40, the eighth pick in the second round. After fielding interviews and phone calls, Beck caught a 9 p.m. flight for Miami on Saturday night, where he'll be part of a Dolphin press conference and meet with team officials.

"There isn't any difference between John Beck and (Notre Dame's) Brady Quinn. I think Miami got lucky with Beck," said ESPN analyst Mark May.

"The Dolphins are very fortunate to get Beck where they did," said May's TV partner, Sean Salisbury.

For weeks, Beck wanted to go to Miami, a solid franchise with a storied tradition. And like his experience at BYU, the Dolphins are a franchise bent on returning to its glory days. Beck knows the routine. As a Cougar senior, he helped lead BYU to its first bowl win in 10 years.

After Cleveland took Wisconsin offensive lineman Joe Thomas No. 3 and Miami opted for Ohio State receiver Ted Ginn, Quinn slipped to the 22nd pick. But Beck's script was just beginning.

After the Dolphins drafted Beck, they told him just how hard they went after him after spending their first pick.

Miami's management told Beck that the Dolphins' general manager tried frantically to join in the trade business in the first round, where nine teams traded picks. They phoned around the league, begging for a higher pick so they could take Beck before No. 40. Nobody wanted to play.

"About the mid-first round, I was texted by Miami and I found out later the Dolphins had tried three times to trade up to get me," he said.

Philadelphia had a chance to take Beck four picks earlier at No. 36 but chose Houston's Kevin Kolb, a passer rated lower than Beck on many pre-draft lists. Beck didn't flinch over the snub, which made him the fourth quarterback picked.