For four years he waited his turn, giving the occasional rest to one of the best running backs in the NFL. He kept his cool, learned what he could, and was more than ready when he got his chance to sign as a free agent with the Falcons for $34.5 million.

Today, Turner is back in San Diego as the third-leading rusher in the NFL.

Good things come to those who wait? By the bushel, in Turner's case.

He has rushed for 1,088 yards, which trails only Clinton Portis and Adrian Peterson. He is tied for the NFL lead with 13 rushing touchdowns, with a league-high 251 carries.

This is a guy who started only once for San Diego. He has 23 more carries in his 11 starts for the Falcons than in his four seasons with the Chargers.

Some might have complained in the media, created some kind of stink, demanded a trade.

"That's not my style," Turner said.

Waiting pays off

He learned patience as a child, and the payoff that could come with having a good attitude.

Turner is one of six brothers who played Football growing up in Chicago. With three older brothers in college and high school Football, his mother didn't feel like she could handle keeping up with a fourth in organized Football. So Michael had to wait until the seventh grade to play in pads.

"I was good in the streets, though," he said.

His patience in San Diego and how he handled himself while he waited was something the Falcons took into account when they decided Turner was the running back they wanted to build around.

"He didn't get a whole lot of carries, probably around 50 a year, but Michael was a consummate team player," Falcons coach Mike Smith said. "The whole time he was there you never heard any issues about 'Hey give me the ball, I want the ball.' That says a lot about Michael and what kind of person he is. It's actually shown here in terms of when Jerious [Norwood] gets his opportunities for his touches. I think [Turner] understands the dynamics of having more than one running back."

One of his rewards, it just so happens, is a trip back to Qualcomm Stadium and a chance to face his former team as the No. 1 guy.

The Falcons are 7-4, compared with the 4-7 Chargers, and --- oh, by the way --- Turner is outrushing Tomlinson, the five-time Pro Bowl pick, by 318 yards on the season.

So is Turner gunning for more of the same today, trying to outrush his old mentor?

"Just want to come out with the win," Turner said, giving one of his familiar laughs. "I'm not the one tackling L.T., so I don't have any control over that. I hope [Falcons defenders] do a good job of doing that. I've just got to do my part."

About as flamboyant as Turner was going to get in his pregame interviews was to acknowledge he'd had this date (at least mentally) circled on the calendar, and that Tomlinson had offered up a "See you in San Diego" in a friendly text message exchange they had the night before the season started.

Tomlinson a mentor

"It's not any kind of revenge game, but I knew it was going to be fun," Turner said. "They'll probably be doing some trash talking to me. We trash-talked in practice, so on Sunday, I don't think it'll be any different."

He was referring to the Chargers defenders. What he and Tomlinson have to say about each other is respectful.

That makes sense, given that Tomlinson is the kind of guy who won the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year Award the same year he won NFL MVP in 2006.

Turner kept a close eye on Tomlinson, how he handled himself off the field, in the film room, in interviews and in the training room.

"How he approached the game, how he studied tapes, what he saw in the defense," Turner said. "Any little thing I could pick up from him --- how he took care of his body. Hot tub, cold tub, get your massages. Don't eat too much junk food. Just being a pro."

Tomlinson said he considers Turner like a little brother. And watching Turner's season unfold has made him proud.

"I'm happy to see him finally get his chance to be on his own team and be the guy," Tomlinson said. "Michael has been primed and ready to be in that situation. This year he's proven why."

The Chargers fielded trade offers for Turner last year but kept their asking price steep. They ultimately signed him to a one-year $2.35 million contract as a restricted free agent, and they patted themselves on the back for it when he rushed for 71 yards against Indianapolis in the playoffs last year after Tomlinson got hurt.

So of all the eyes Turner is opening around the league this year, the Chargers are the least surprised.

"He looks like Michael Turner," Chargers coach Norv Turner said. "We all knew if Michael got a chance to do that on a week-to-week basis, what the results would be."