How far can Beck take us?

[NLC1054]

*sigh*

1.) Beck went to Parcells at the end of the 2008 season and laid his cards on the table. He wanted to know where he stood in the organization, and if he'd be able to compete for a starting job. Parcells pretty much told him no. This is a year after Parcells came into the organization and said that Beck reminded him of Tony Romo.

(Which is weord, since Tony Romo wasn't a Parcells product, he was Sean Payton's project. And Mike Shanahan wanted him too. Go figure.)

Beck asked if he'd be allowed to compete for a starting job. Parcells told him no. They apparently had some words. Beck asked to be traded or be released.

Let me repeat this. John Beck ASKED to be traded or released, if he wasn't going to be able to compete for a chance to compete. This isn't Bill Parcells saying "oh, this guy isn't worth anything". That's Beck going into Parcells office and saying "I deserve to start, at least give me the opportunity to try and start somewhere else". Parcells granted his request. His request.

2.) When it comes to John Beck going to the Ravens, people very much like to ignore the fact that Beck was never going to start there. Ever. To sit and act indignant like "Oh, if Ozzie Newsome saw something in Beck he woulda kept him" conveniently ignores the fact that they already had a franchise quarterback in Joe Flacco, and a back-up quarterback they drafted in Troy Smith.

The Ravens needed a corner. Mike and Kyle liked John Beck. The Ravens had just signed Marc Bulger to be a pretty expensive back-up quarterback, and Joe Flacco is healthy, so the Ravens knew they were going to be rolling with two QB's, so Beck got traded.

It's not this black and white case of "well if those guys saw anything they woulda kept him!". It's business, and it's regime changes.

I'm not saying Beck can start, but I'm kinda of annoyed at the "If Parcells/Newsome thought he had something they woulda kept him" argument. It ignores the facts of his time in the NFL.