"They share the same agent, Tom Condon. They worked out together in Arizona before the 2008 NFL Scouting Combine. They share enough of the same characteristics as players that you could imagine each playing for the other's coaching staff.

But Dolphins left tackle Jake Long said he and Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan never have talked, kibitzed or kidded about the one thing that will link them forever in their slice of NFL history -- being each side of The Choice that faced the Dolphins with the 2008 draft's No. 1 overall pick.

Oh, there was media talk about the Dolphins taking defensive end Chris Long. But the required foundation blocks the Dolphins lacked were an A-list left tackle and a good, young quarterback.

``I had no idea what was going to happen,'' Ryan said. ``I guess maybe for a second, maybe you think that [the Dolphins would pick him], but really I had no idea.''

One season later, both teams are happy with the Dolphins' decision to take Jake Long. Atlanta jumped on Ryan at No. 3 overall after St. Louis took Chris Long at No. 2. The Dolphins think they have their 10-year left tackle and hope they were able to get their young quarterback in Chad Henne. Atlanta is sure it found its franchise quarterback in Ryan, who, along with the NFL's No. 2 rushing attack, helped return the Falcons to the playoffs.

``What's funny about Matt is that what we saw when we visited him at the time [of the draft] is exactly what you see right now,'' Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said. ``I see a smart player that is very hard to show him something that he is not prepared for, a lot like [Indianapolis quarterback] Peyton Manning, [Dolphins quarterback] Chad Pennington. He is always going to be prepared for it, can make all the throws. Winner, the guy is a winner.''"