I met John Beck tonight...

[Househead]

Tonight I had the pleasure of meeting and talking to John Beck for a bit.  A fund raiser for "Make a Wish" foundation was taking place in Ft. Lauderdale where bunch of sports memorabilia was auctioned off to raise money. I got invited as one of our big clients is on the board of directors for the foundation and John Beck was sitting at our table. Naturally everyone was focused on him and asking him questions, football and non-football related.

Couple questions that I was able to sneak in:
* What was the biggest thing you learned / difference b/w college and your first year playing in the NFL? - He basically indicated that it was the players. In college he played with same core group of guys for 3/4 years and had a foundation. He was still developing that here but felt it was coming along well....kind of a crappy answer I felt….
* Has there been a noticeable difference since the Tuna has stepped yet?  - He said absolutely. The fins are cleaning house. He said that there were many players there last year that just did not want to be there and did not have the right attitude and the team is getting rid of them and bringing in solid guys. He said that there has been a big change in attitude in the locker room and that attitude is everything....
* Whether he made friends outside of football down here and whether that was easy? - He indicated that most his friends are from his church and that he is very engaged in their activities...btw, while everyone got hammered drinking, he only drank water. Such a good Mormon.

He also talked to us about the Steelers game last year and how Jason Taylor was cursing at the refs because of the playing conditions. He said the field was in such a crappy, muddy condition that anytime you took a step your foot sank into the mud up to your ankle.

He also told us about an embarrassing moment that he had as an avid baseball fan. He went to Jason Taylor's ping-pong party and Jeff Conine was in attendance. John went up to him, knowing he was a baseball player, and told him how great his pitching is. He laughed and said he was really embarrassed when Conine corrected him and told him that he did not pitch....

I was also polite and told him that I thought he looked good in relief last year and I thought the job should be his and that they don’t draft that kid from BC. He said he really appreciated that.

Btw, I was really surprised how "small" he is.  He might have been an inch taller or two than I and not that much bigger, muscle wise....btw, a group photo from our table was taken. If it gets published, I will try to post it on here. I stand right next to him...

All in all, I really liked the guy. Very humble and down to earth. Quality person.  He also donated $2,500.00 to the charity. I really wish him the best for his career and hope he becomes a good qb for our team....

On a side note, I also saw Jason Allen and former FB Rob Conrad from the fins were in attendance. Bob Costas was hosting the event.

[DolFan619]

  You lucky dog.  That's cool that you got to meet Beck.  Definately sounds like a guy you could sit down and have a beer with, or in John's case a bottle of Dasani.

[jtex316]

Rob Konrad! The biggest hack NFL player ever! Sweet...i thought he was dead.

[Sunstroke]

Sounds like you had a good time...those type of events are always a blast.

A couple of questions though...

1) Did anyone move toward Beck in a menacing manner during the auction? If so, did he get that deer-in-headlights look like when it happens to him on the field?

2) Did you get a chance to ask him how my "Beck has started his last game as a Dolphin" prediction is looking these days?

[Dol-Phan in Dallas]

Very cool that you got to do that, Househead.  From everything I've read and heard, Beck seems to be a quality person.  I just hope he is a quality Quarterback.  I am choosing to be hopeful.   

[YoFuggedaboutit]

* Has there been a noticeable difference since the Tuna has stepped yet?  - He said absolutely. The fins are cleaning house. He said that there were many players there last year that just did not want to be there and did not have the right attitude and the team is getting rid of them and bringing in solid guys. He said that there has been a big change in attitude in the locker room and that attitude is everything....

John Beck's answer here pretty much proves that the Dolphins did the right thing giving Cam Cameron his walking papers.  If you can't get your players to have the right attitude, you have no business being the coach.

[Banshee]

btw, while everyone got hammered drinking, he only drank water. Such a good Mormon.

More like, such a smart athlete. 

[PMZQ]

Great post bro, thanks for the info on Beck.

I guess the report in the Herald the other morning, saying that Parcells has ordered Beck to put on 10-15 lbs of muscle are correct.

[Househead]

More like, such a smart athlete. 

How smart? He did not drink, but he ate the cookies that were on the table....

[fyo]

I guess the report in the Herald the other morning, saying that Parcells has ordered Beck to put on 10-15 lbs of muscle are correct.

It's sad when you read stuff like this. Either they don't truly mean "muscle" or they're clearly advocating the use of performance enhancing drugs. There's just no way to gain 10-15 lbs of pure muscle in a few months on nothing but water and protein (and carbs and fat).

[Brian Fein]

I guess it means, "get your ass in the gym, you scrawny bitch"

Awesome summary, dude.  I'm jealous.  John Beck is one of the only Dolphins on the team I'd love to meet.  The guy seems like a straight up and down dude, and I am super jealous you got to sit and have a chat with him.  I hope he gets another chance.

[Philly Fin Fan]

I hope he gets another chance.

Haven't you heard? He's getting his walking papers...or has started his last game or something. I dunno, Sunstroke and Tommy are starting to sound alike, go ask them.

[Househead]

Forgot to mention.  He is a big family guy. He kept talking about his 11 month old son and how he is walking and stuff.....the kids favorite toy is a basketball. lol

[DolFan619]

It's sad when you read stuff like this. Either they don't truly mean "muscle" or they're clearly advocating the use of performance enhancing drugs. There's just no way to gain 10-15 lbs of pure muscle in a few months on nothing but water and protein (and carbs and fat).

  One of Bill Parcells "11 Quarterback Commandments" in regards to quarterback workout regimen: "A quarterback throws with his legs more than his arms.  Squat and run.  Fat quarterbacks can't avoid the rush."

  I don't expect John to look like an ancient Greek adonis, but he's probably working on strengthing his core muscles and legs.  Which are probably the most important muscle groups that John needs to work on.

Haven't you heard? He's getting his walking papers...or has started his last game or something. I dunno, Sunstroke and Tommy are starting to sound alike, go ask them.

  So true.   

[run_to_win]

Sunstroke and Tommy are starting to sound alike....

So it's NOT just me....