Backlash against John Beck is wrong

The instinct among many Dolphins fans is to draw the instant conclusion, and that drive to know a truth before it is truly revealed has been supercharged recently by the current sorry state of the team.

Because things are going so poorly, everyone now instantly assumes the worst. If Jason Allen isn't on the field, he's a bust. If Ted Ginn doesn't catch five passes, he'll never make it as a receiver. If the Dolphins have the first overall pick in the draft, they'll find a way to blow it.

Dolfans are developing a sense of impending epic doom about, well, everything. Such are some of the reactions about John Beck today.

The rookie had a bad game Sunday afternoon. He threw three interceptions. He fumbled three times, losing two. He was generally over his head against an otherwise unspectacular Jets defense. And so I've already heard from Dolfans that think Beck is not the answer.

I'm getting e-mails from folks who claim to know Beck doesn't have it and will never have it. There are people out there calling for the Dolphins to draft another quarterback in the first round next year because they guy they drafted in the second round last year had one bad game.

And to that I say, rubbish.

Sunday proved absolutely nothing about John Beck other than he has a long way to go and a lot of learning to do. That is all. It didn't prove he won't be good next year or in five years. It didn't prove he is too short or his arm isn't strong enough or his vision is poor.

It was just one bad afternoon for the quarterback of a bad team. After throwing three picks Sunday, Beck is just as likely to throw three touchdowns the next time Miami plays the Jets. That is how little Sunday means from a historical perspective in this player's career.

Anyone who was expecting Beck to be a prodigy and look like a young Dan Marino learned Sunday he looks more like a young Drew Brees -- trying to learn what he doesn't know and struggling to have success with what he does know.

And like Brees, who struggled his first three years in San Diego, Beck might struggle for a while in Miami. That doesn't make him a failure. That makes him human.

The point is anyone drawing a conclusion on Beck based on one game is simply guessing. Could be right. But could be wrong, also. I say let the kid go through his growing pains. Days like this are supposed to happen.

Just because they do happen doesn't mean you should be ready to abandon hope. It is way too early to do that. It is way too early to write off John Beck.

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