Michael Vick: NFL's Comeback Player of the Year?

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick has had an long journey following federal felony charges leading to a 21-month stint in jail but the success he has seen in the 2010 NFL season makes him a top contender as the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year.

Vick reentered the NFL in the 2009 season as a back up to Donovan McNabb but his position certainly didn't steer the smears away from his direction. The spotlight was on him and the horrific acts he performed in the past.

The response to his return came with many mixed emotions. Many claimed the NFL wasn't a place for players like Vick who was sent to jail on account of dog fighting charges.

On the other side, fans opted to forgive Vick for his actions and move on after he served his time in jail.

One thing everyone could agree on is that Vick needed a killer season for there to be any hopes of letting go of the past. His chance came in the 2010 season.

Backstopping his team to a 5-3 start, Vick's Eagles are second in the NFC East only to the powerhouse New York Giants. Vick is a big reason why.

In fact, talks have surfaced concerning a long-term deal for Vick to stay with the Eagles and remain their starter.

Much faith has been placed in Vick's hands and he's delivered with rewarding results.

Not only has he won over a fan base, an aggressive, passionate and very opinionated Philadelphia fan base at that, but his skills have rounded him into a complete quarterback. Doubters questioned his ability to improve his game after such trying times and negative press, easy excuses to make if one isn't performing to standard.

Not the case.

Vick's passing yards sit at 1017, nothing special, but his overall rating is NFL-leading 105.3. Even more impressive is he has thrown no interceptions or fumbled the football. His overall game has improved dramatically, including his passing and running game that can surprise any defense.

Any quarterback boasting multiple skills in his arsenal will be considered a threat, especially if these skills come unexpectedly. The timeliness of surprise is a huge asset for Vick and is one of the many reasons why he should be feared by defenses league-wide.

Regardless of ones opinion on Vick's past actions, it goes without saying that he has defied the critics and demonstrated how he can turn his game around with a hard-worker's mentality and a changed lifestyle.

In fact, Vick's comeback story is one all too common this season in the NFL. Players like Colt McCoy and Terrell Owens all went through similar issues of defying critics and putting on performances that shed only favorable light on them.

In this season of redemption, Vick is leading the charge, showing just what can be accomplished despite nothing going your way.

Laura Falcon is a Featured Columnist for the Pittsburgh Penguins and a college writing intern for Bleacher Report. Follow her on Twitter or email her at [e-mail] with any comments.