Since the end of the 2007 season, the Dolphins acquired 28-year-old free agent quarterback Josh McCown and drafted Michigan quarterback Chad Henne. Beck, 26, will be battling with McCown for the starting role. Two weeks ago, McCown sustained a cut on the index finger of his throwing hand that required six stitches after a brush with a chain saw. McCown, who signed a $6.25 million, two-year contract in February, expects to be ready for the start of training camp.

"They told all of us that the job's wide open," Beck said. "The last two mini-camps, they let Josh and me rotate reps with the ones. He took it one day, I'd take it the next. We were going back and forth. It's an open competition. I feel like I've done a good job up to this point. Now it's a just matter of heading into training camp, getting the job done. I want to be the guy this fall."

Last season, Beck experienced some growing pains, both literally and figuratively. He was sacked 10 times in his first three starts, and for the year he fumbled seven times, losing five. In the season finale, a 38-25 defeat to Cincinnati, Beck coughed up a fumble that resulted in a Bengal touchdown. Later, though, he led the Dolphins on two scoring drives, including his first touchdown pass late in the contest.

For the season, Beck completed 60 of 107 passes for 559 yards, recorded one touchdown and three interceptions and posted a quarterback rating of 62.0.

Beck has been able to sit down on several occasions with Parcells, who owns a pair of Super Bowl rings and has been instrumental in turning around several NFL franchises over the years. "He's pretty cool. I've had breakfasts where he'll come sit down next to me and ask me how things are going. He'll talk to me about the experiences he's had with Phil Simms and Tony Romo and things they did well. I just listen and try to do it."

Besides dining with the man known as "The Big Tuna," there are many surreal moments in the NFL, Beck said.

"I grew up watching Jason Taylor and Zach Thomas. Then, in my first practice, I'm doing a 7-on-7 drill and there they are. All of a sudden, I was practicing with them. I'm handing off the ball to Ricky Williams 20-something times a practice. I remember watching him when he was at Texas. There are a lot of surreal moments, and that's why I feel it's a privilege for me to be there. I definitely had to work hard to get there, and I plan to work hard to stay there and be the guy for the Dolphins."

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E-mail: jeffc@desnews.com