When the Miami Dolphins released their first depth chart of training camp, coach Tony Sparano insisted that no one should read anything into the fact that Josh McCown was listed as the starting quarterback.

Apparently he meant it. The Dolphins’ preseason opener is tonight, and McCown isn’t even expected to take the field.

Jeff Darlington of the Miami Herald reports that Sparano has told second-year quarterback John Beck that he’ll play the first and the third quarters, while rookie Chad Henne will play the second and fourth quarters.

That might seem to indicate that McCown is on the way out as a result of front office boss Bill Parcells acquiring one of his personal favorites, Chad Pennington. But Darlington reports that Sparano actually told the quarterbacks of his plans on Thursday, before Pennington became a Dolphin.

And there are also indications that, in reality, the odd man out in the Dolphins’ quarterback derby will be Beck. Pro Football Weekly quotes an unnamed team source saying that Beck, last year’s second-round pick, is in serious jeopardy of losing his job.

“They’re going to give John two more weeks to show what he can do, but if he continues his awful play, he’s out of here,” the source said. “He’s been terrible throughout camp, and there’s no way four quarterbacks are going to make the final roster. He’s not one of Parcells’ guys, and they have no loyalty to him.”

Pennington is the favorite to become the starter, and Henne, as a second-round draft pick who was chosen by the current regime, is certainly safe. But it’s between McCown and Beck for the third and final quarterback roster spot. Tonight McCown will watch from the sidelines, quietly hoping Beck falters.