Panthers had eyed Turner, Ryan

CHARLOTTE -- The Carolina Panthers spent countless hours in the off-season evaluating whether to pursue two players who are now key members of the Atlanta Falcons team they'll face Sunday at Bank of America Stadium.

Running back Michael Turner, one of the NFL's top available unrestricted free agents in February, possessed the size, power and speed that ideally fit the Carolina offense.

Rookie quarterback Matt Ryan was one of the prized draft prospects whose skills and intangible qualities were widely admired within the Panthers organization.

The Panthers ultimately decided to get their power back in the draft (Jonathan Stewart) and had such immediate needs at other positions that they probably wouldn't have drafted Ryan even if he'd been available when they picked 13th in the first round.

Now, barring injury, Carolina must face Turner and Ryan twice a year because they landed with NFC South rival Atlanta.

Turner leads the NFL in rushing with 366 yards. Ryan (511 yards passing with two touchdowns and two interceptions) has the Falcons off to a surprising 2-1 start.

Though Atlanta picked Ryan No. 3 in the draft, far out of the Panthers' reach, Carolina had bidding rights for Turner like any team.

At 5 feet 10 inches and 244 pounds, Turner had the size and muscle that coach John Fox likes in running backs.

Turner also had breakaway speed, running 73 yards or longer for touchdowns three times over the previous three seasons for the San Diego Chargers despite getting only spot duty behind LaDainian Tomlinson.

Turner was excited about leaving Tomlinson's shadow and becoming a starter elsewhere.

"I was interested in anybody who was interested in me," he said.

Though the Panthers seemed like a logical suitor, Turner said he "heard some whispers from Carolina, but nothing definite."

Fox said the Panthers preferred to draft a running back rather than spend big for a free agent. Atlanta gave Turner a six-year, $34.5 million contract.

"It's just a preference as far as where you're going to commit your currency for player acquisition," Fox said. "[It's] not that we couldn't have pursued that. He was definitely a guy we eyeballed and we felt was very good, [but] we just elected to go in a different direction."

Stewart (145 yards) isn't starting yet and splits carries with DeAngelo Williams but leads the Panthers with three touchdowns.

Turner has scored five times and had big rushing games against the NFL's two lowest-rated run defenses, Detroit and St. Louis.

Panthers officials liked Ryan so much that there were people in the organization who compared him with John Elway and Peyton Manning -- franchise quarterbacks in the truest sense.

"We did a lot of research on him," Fox said of Ryan. "You're always looking at quarterbacks. He was a guy that we liked. Realistically, we didn't think he was going to get to us."

What if the Falcons and other teams had passed on Ryan and he'd been available with the 13th spot, where Carolina picked Stewart?

"It's hard for me to say what would have happened," Fox said. "We had a lot of needs."

As it turned out, the Panthers must continue extensive film study of Ryan.