Nobody can argue this point about Baltimore Ravens quarterback John Beck: His passion for football is deep, an addiction of sorts. His gym-rat-hood badge of honor is one hefty chunk of metal.

If they gave out Boy Scout merit badges for football, it would have been his first. He devours football, always has. His game plan is tied to contingencies. He always works with a road map on how to get there, and like a kid with a hero costume, he has no doubt he's going to arrive. His dreams come with whistles and scoreboards and high definition replays.

It's always been this way, say his family and friends. Some kids want to be firemen, policemen, astronauts. John Beck always wanted to receive the hike and throw the ball. He's the last guy off the field. At home, somebody has to tell him to turn off the lights and set the playbook aside. His nightmares are of football failure, not Jason and a hockey mask.

That's why the past few months in Baltimore mini-camps, his mantra's been simple. He knows Joe Flacco is The Man. He just wants to nudge in and be No. 2 in case something happens. Then, he'll get his chance.

Beck's riding the NFL horse as far as the path takes him. And when he's done, he'll find another realm in which to digest football. That's why it's impressive to see what he's doing with his spare time, that little crack of daylight that is his vacation in July. He'll cram in fishing, four-wheeling and golf. But he's surrounded his agenda with the game, the real game.

Spare time?

From the time Baltimore ended camp in mid-June to when Beck has to report back, he's got about 30 days as a free man.

Somehow, Beck has worked in a week to go to San Diego and have throwing sessions with Drew Brees and Carson Palmer. He'll also work out with their personal trainer.

He'll also find time to work out at BYU, where he says it feels like his "workshop" and puts him "in the perfect frame of mind to train."

Beck found time to make the media circuit last week to spread the word about the APX Next Level football camp he and former Cougar captain Cameron Jensen host next week at Provo High and later in St. George. He started a charitable foundation called Friends for Football to provide money to tough-luck youth who love football but can't afford to go to a camp. He structured it after Steve Young's charity to benefit American Indians with a big golf fundraiser. He's found time to gather current and former NFL players to participate in a four-man scramble tournament at Thanksgiving Point on Wednesday. He also set up a two-man scramble as a separate competition that afternoon (www.friendsforfootball.org) with an auction dinner Tuesday.

The financial support the young men will receive to play in local leagues will give them an activity that, Beck believes, "will strengthen their character and keep them away from other pitfalls that many underprivileged youth face."

Then he goes to San Diego for Brees and Palmer. Somehow, Beck's going to fit all this in, plus keep his wife, friends and other family members happy divvying up his spare time before he returns to Baltimore for fall camp July 26.

My hat's off to the kid.

If I finally had a break after what he's been through the past six months, I'd hide at Fish Lake or between the first and 18th hole somewhere. Not Beck. Something drives the kid, he's front and center. And in motion. He's got a grip on his game plan and he won't let go.

E-MAIL: harmon@desnews.com