Bortles on Goff: "I'm excited to support him and be there for him and do anything I can to help him."
Myles Simmons
Rams Insider
When free agents have signed with the Rams over the last couple of years, they've usually cited head coach Sean McVay and the environment he's created as one of the main reasons they've chosen Los Angeles.
Quarterback Blake Bortles put pen to paper on Monday, and started off with that same line of reasoning when asked, "Why L.A.?" But then he specifically mentioned one of his new teammates.
PHOTOS: Best of Blake Bortles
Check out the best photos of the new Los Angeles Rams quarterback Blake Bortles.
FILE - In this Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, file photo, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) celebrates his touchdown pass to wide receiver Keelan Cole (84) during the first half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars might as well dub this the Payback Tour 2018. It started last week against when Jaguars won against two-time defending AFC champion New England. Now, the Jaguars get AFC South rival, the Tennessee Titans. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton)
Stephen B. Morton/Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) throws a pass during the second half of the NFL AFC Championship football game against the New England Patriots on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. (Perry Knotts via AP)
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Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) runs the ball, during the second half at an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
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Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) and Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) shake hands during warm ups prior to an NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams at EverBank Field, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Rams defeated the Jaguars 27-17. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Perry Knotts
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Rick Scuteri
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles warms up before an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
John Raoux/Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) looks on prior to a play during a NFL preseason football game against the New Orleans Saints, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018, in Jacksonville, Fla. (Logan Bowles via AP)
Logan Bowles/A2018
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) throws against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Ross D. Franklin/Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles on the field during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Phelan M. Ebenhack/Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) looks on during an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017, in Indianapolis. (NFL Photos via AP)
NFL Photos
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) scrambles and jumps for a touchdown during a game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday Nov. 26, 2017 in Glendale, Ariz. (Gene Lower via AP)
Gene Lower
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) runs for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the New Orleans Saints Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles warms up before an NFL preseason football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Jim Mone/Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) throws the ball as he warms up before an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018, in Jacksonville, Fla. (Doug Murray via AP)
Doug Murray/AP2018
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) and Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) talk after an NFL game at EverBank Field, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Rams defeated the Jaguars 27-17. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) during an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Thursday, Dec. 06, 2018 in Nashville,TN. (Aaron Doster via AP)
Aaron Doster/AP2018/Aaron Doster
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) looks to pass during an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018, in Jacksonville, Fla. (Tom DiPace via AP)
Tom DiPace/Tom DiPace©
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) warms up before an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
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Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) during an NFL regular season football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, Oct. 14, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. The Cowboys won, 40-7. (Ric Tapia via AP)
Ric Tapia/AP2018
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) warms up before the first half of an NFL football game between the Tennessee Titans and the Jacksonville Jaguars, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski)
Mark Zaleski/Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) adjusts the offense from the line of scrimmage during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the New Orleans Saints, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton)
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) wears a smile as he rests on the bench following a 4th quarter touchdown pass against the New England Patriots in an NFL game Sunday, September 16, 2018 in Jacksonville, Fl. (Rick Wilson via AP)
Rick Wilson/AP2018
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) throws a pass against the New York Giants in an NFL game Sunday, September 9, 2018 in East Rutherford, NJ. (Rick Wilson via AP)
Jacksonville Jaguars center Brandon Linder (65) and quarterback Blake Bortles (5) leave the tunnel before kick-off against the Tennessee Titans in an NFL game Sunday, September 23, 2018 in Jacksonville, Fl. (Rick Wilson via AP)
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) throws against the Houston Texans during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
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Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) warms up before an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts in Indianapolis, Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
AJ Mast/Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) scrambles during the second half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
Gary McCullough/Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) runs for a first down during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017 in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals won the game, 27-24. (Greg Trott via AP)
Greg Trott
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018 in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars defeated the Falcons 17-6. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) sets up to throw a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) celebrates his touchdown run against the New Orleans Saints with teammates wide receiver Marqise Lee, left, and tight end Ben Koyack during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton)
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) looks to pass against the Buffalo Bills during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Adrian Kraus/Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
FILE - In this Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018 file photo, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles celebrates a touchdown run by running back Leonard Fournette during the first half of the AFC championship NFL football game against the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Mass. Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles had quite the start to his offseason. He had wrist surgery. He signed a $54 million contract. And he nearly got robbed. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)
Steven Senne/Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles, right, hands off to running back T.J. Yeldon (24) in the first half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Oct. 14, 2018. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
Ron Jenkins/Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) throws a pass during pregame warm-ups against the Houston Texans during an NFL game Sunday, December 30, 2018 in Houston. (Rick Wilson via AP)
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Seth Wenig/Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) during warm ups prior to an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018 in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars defeated the Falcons 17-6. (Perry Knotts via AP)
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) throws during warm-ups before an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Oct. 14, 2018. (AP Photo/Jim Cowsert)
Jim Cowsert/Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) walks to a huddle on the field during the second half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars won 31-20. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles smiles at teammates during the first half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton)
"I think just being around coach McVay," Bortles told therams.com, "being around this organization, watching kind of from the outside looking in kind of what they've been able to do the past couple years, having a relationship with Jared and talking with him — so really fired up to be around those guys and, hopefully, help out in any way I can."
Bortles and Goff initially struck up a relationship because they're represented by the same agent. Bortles entered the league a couple years before the Rams' starting signal-caller, but they've connected and stayed in touch over the past couple years.
"We work out together and stuff down in Orange County, play in the Tahoe golf tournament and do that stuff together. So he's been a guy where it was kind of like an immediate friendship," Bortles said. "And we stay in touch throughout the year and talk, and kind of give each other 'Good game' [texts] and all that stuff."
"From what I know about Blake as a friend, I'm sure he will be a great addition to the quarterback room," Goff said. "His experience and new perspective is welcomed and will make us stronger as a unit."
While their conversations certainly aren't limited to football, Bortles said that Goff's had nothing but effusive praise for his head coach — and that's part of why Bortles wanted to put Los Angeles at the top of his list for teams he wanted to visit when he hit free agency.
"It's kind of — you hear about everything being in the NFL, especially playing quarterback. You kind of have an understanding of what's going on in most places as you create relationships and talk to guys," Bortles said. "And every time I got a chance to talk to Jared about Sean, it was always super positive. I know he's had a huge impact on his career and his development. And I hope I can help do that as well for Jared."
So now a friendship will evolve into a working relationship, one where Bortles will be in an important supporting role. The former Jaguar said he learned a lot about being a No. 2 quarterback from Chad Henne, who held that spot from 2014-2017. In that way, Bortles said he knows what it looks like when it's done right, and that's how he plans on handling the 2019 season with Goff in L.A.
"I'm excited to work with him," Bortles said of Goff. "I'm excited to support him and be there for him and do anything I can to help him."