"If you didn't know the Jaguars' future franchise quarterback was making his official debut Friday at the team's headquarters, you would have thought the impeccably dressed Blaine Gabbert was here for a GQ cover shoot.

The baby-faced rookie came across as polished, somewhat rehearsed in some of his answers. But the important thing for the Jaguars is he was totally respectful of his place behind David Garrard in the quarterback pecking order.

The team needs Gabbert to have a comfortable working relationship with Garrard, the 33-year-old veteran whose job he's aiming to take. Early indications are the two might bond just as easily with a rod and reel in hand as a football.

Once the University of Missouri product got away from the media spotlight, his piercing blue eyes lit up when the subject turned to Garrard's passion for all things fishing — deep-sea, fresh-water, sailfish, tuna, largemouth bass, etc.

"Yeah, I heard that about [Garrard]. I like all of that, too, but I really like the fact you never know what you're going to catch deep-sea fishing," Gabbert said.

One thing the Jaguars couldn't know for certain when they drafted Gabbert — trading up six spots in the first round to do it — is how the working dynamic with Garrard will play out. It can be an awkward process, especially with many Jaguars' fans likely to be clamoring for the young gunslinger. But Garrard accepts the situation as part of NFL life.

"I was definitely surprised [about the first-round selection]. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't," Garrard said. "But I knew at some point a quarterback would be taken because Gene [Smith, Jaguars' general manager] told me that. I don't have any problem with it whatsoever. Competition is healthy. It brings out the best in whoever is competing. One guy wins out over the other, that's how it is in sports."