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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 9:52 a.m., Wednesday, November 14, 2007

NFL: Miami QB Beck promoted to starting job

By Steven Wine
Associated Press

DAVIE, Fla. — The winless Miami Dolphins have decided to find out whether rookie John Beck is their quarterback of the future.

Beck will make his NFL debut when he starts Sunday at Philadelphia, replacing Cleo Lemon with the first team. Coach Cam Cameron told the quarterbacks of the change today, a person familiar with the conversation told The Associated Press.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because Cameron planned to wait until after practice to announce his decision.

Beck, a second-round draft pick from BYU, will become the 12th quarterback to start for the Dolphins since Dan Marino retired following the 1999 season. He'll be the third starter at QB this season for winless Miami, following Trent Green and Lemon.

Green started the first five games but went on injured reserve Oct. 20 following his second severe concussion in 13 months. Cameron decided to promote Beck after the Dolphins lost the past five games with Lemon as the quarterback.

The Dolphins are only the seventh team to start 0-9 since 1990.

Beck was the first quarterback drafted in the first or second round by the Dolphins since Marino. Giving him a tryout now will help them decide whether they need to acquire a quarterback in 2008.