2010 NFL Comeback Player of the Year: Terrell Owens and Other Potential Winners

With most of the season done and the downhill slide starting to shape up, already there have been many great stories within the NFL during the 2010 season.

Many of these stories about about players who have lost their sparkle over the past couple years and are now shining like the stars they could have been again.

Here are my picks for the NFL Comeback Player of the Year.

No. 10: Ahmad Bradshaw

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SEATTLE - NOVEMBER 07: Running back Ahmad Bradshaw #44 of the New York Giants rushes against the Seattle Seahawks at Qwest Field on November 7, 2010 in Seattle, Washington. The Giants defeated the Seahawks 41-7. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

"I'm running free yeah, I'm running free!"

Thanks for the Iron Maiden influence.

Ahmad Bradshaw is someone who most would not consider a "comeback" player because he is really only blossoming.

Bradshaw was playing Brandon Jacobs for the early part of his career. Creating a terrible "Bluesome," the New York Giants have two weapons that complement each other very well, and Bradshaw is finally on pace to get a 1,000-yard season. 

No. 9: Jerod Mayo

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SAN DIEGO - OCTOBER 24: Jerod Mayo #51 of the New England Patriots on defense against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium on October 24, 2010 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Here is a candidate that doesn't really sound like he needs to be on this list at all, but here is my argument why he is.

Jerod Mayo split the hairs of NFL offensive coordinators when he was a rookie in 2008, bursting out of the gates with 128 tackles.

Last year, Mayo only played in 13 games and still recorded over 100 tackles.

So why is he on this list?

Because through nine games this season, according to NFL.com, Jerod Mayo has already eclipsed what he did in 2009 statistically and is showing no signs of slowing down.

If he stays on the pace his is on, he could be projected to garner 187 tackles this season therefore crushing both of his previous seasons.

No.8: Vince Young

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SAN DIEGO - OCTOBER 31: Quarterback Vince Young #10 of the Tennessee Titans drops back to pass against the San Diego Chargers in the game at Qualcomm Stadium on October 31, 2010 in San Diego, California. The Chargers defeated the Titans 33-25. (Photo by

Sure, Vince Young has had some off-the-field mental problems over the years, but he's never played this well.

Or has he?

Young has the highest quarterback rating of his career and one of the top ratings in the entire NFL, but here are his stats as of Week 10, per NFL.com.

Attempts: 140

Completions: 81

Percentage: 57.9

Yards: 1090

Touchdowns: 10

Interceptions: 3

Those are not staggering numbers but when Young is on the field, Tennessee fans know it, and so do defensive coordinators.

His touchdown to interception ratio is the only way I can figure that his rating is so high, but Vince Young has come roaring back this season and the Titans are only one game back of Indianapolis for first place in their division.

No. 7: Michael Turner

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ATLANTA - NOVEMBER 11: Michael Turner #33 of the Atlanta Falcons rushes upfield against the Baltimore Ravens at Georgia Dome on November 11, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The season was 2008. Michael Turner had just come from San Diego to the Atlanta Falcons.

The NFL wouldn't be the same that season.

Fast forward to 2009, just an average running back and played in only 11 games.

Fast further forward to right now, after the end of Week 10 during the 2010 season.

Turner is on pace to rush for over 1,300 yards this season. It appears he is back to form.

No. 6: Terrell Owens

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ATLANTA - OCTOBER 24: Terrell Owens #81 of the Cincinnati Bengals against the Atlanta Falcons at Georgia Dome on October 24, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Where will he go?

Who will take the risk?

Who wants to deal with him?

Cincinnati did and he is paying big dividends.

T.O. has already passed his totals from the Bills in 2009 and he has only played nine games this year. Easily on pace for another 1,000-yard season.

According to his current stats, he is on pace to have the highest yards receiving total for a single season in his career.

No.5: John Abraham

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FLOWERY BRANCH, GA - JULY 30: John Abraham #55 of the Atlanta Falcons runs drills during opening day of training camp on July 30, 2010 at the Falcons Training Complex in Flowery Branch, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

John Abraham was a quarterback nightmare in 2008.

He recorded 38 tackles and 16.5 sacks in 16 games that year.

2009 was a different story. His sack total dropped by 11 in one season.

This season he is back on track and having another great season. Quarterbacks are beginning to fear his name again.

This year's stats through Week 10:

Tackles: 21

Sacks: 8.0

Pass Deflected: 3.0

No. 4: Dwayne Bowe

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KANSAS CITY, MO - SEPTEMBER 26: Dwayne Bowe #82 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates after a 45-yard touchdown reception against the San Francisco 49ers at Arrowhead Stadium on September 26, 2010 in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs won 31-10. (Photo by J

Wait? When did they get good again?

It has been quite a while since the Kansas City Chiefs fans had something to cheer about.

This season, Dwayne Bowe and Matt Cassel have given them plenty.

Bowe has already caught for more yards than he did all of last season and has gotten more than double the touchdowns he did from a year ago, which was cut short.

Kansas City surprised everyone at the beginning of the season, showing their true form and beating a lot of quality opponents. Bowe certainly had his hands in the matter, literally.

No. 3: Osi Umenyiora

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HOUSTON - OCTOBER 10: Osi Umenyiora #72 of the New York Giants in action during the game against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium on October 10, 2010 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Another Giant on the list?

Yeah.

Osi Umenyiora did not really have a bad 2009 season: 29 tackles and 7.0 sacks. But considering his 2008 numbers were much better, 52 tackles and 13.0 sacks, it qualifies him for having a bad year.

This season he is back to form and has already recorded 9.0 sacks and 26 tackles, which pretty much passes what he did all last season in just the first nine games of 2010.

The Giants could not ask for his spark to come at a better time, with the Redskins and Cowboys falling behind in the NFC East and only Philadelphia to deal with, the Giants are in a position to win their division this season and in New York defense is the name of the game.

No. 2: Mike Williams

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GLENDALE, AZ - NOVEMBER 14: Wide receiver Mike Williams #17 of the Seattle Seahawks carries the ball against Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium on November 14, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. Seattle won 36-18. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Im

Mike Williams has been following former USC folks around since he came out of high school.

He played for Pete Carroll at USC and he took a chance on Williams again. This time it was paying dividends for Carroll.

Williams is having the best season of his career since going back to his rookie year in Detroit.

He already has more receptions and yards than any other point in his career and it is only a matter of time before he snags another touchdown pass.

Williams' size is perfect for a receiver and a big target for Hasselbeck, Whitehurst, Losman or anyone else who cares to throw his way.

Another great success story of the NFL, Williams originally approached Carroll about playing for the Seahawks but was badly overweight, nearly 300 pounds.

He worked out hard, lost the weight and is now one of the top targets on the team.

No.1: Brandon Lloyd

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DENVER - NOVEMBER 14: Wide receiver Brandon Lloyd #84 of the Denver Broncos reacts as his touchdown reception was confirmed by instant replay during the fourth quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs at INVESCO Field at Mile High on November 14, 2010 in D

I know, let me show my shocked face too.

As a Redskins featured columnist, not to mention someone who has watched the Skins for years, I know all too well who this guy is.

He was a big-shot receiving target who came from San Francisco to help boost the Redskins offense and turn the receiving corps around.

Well that didn't happen, and his tenure with the Bears and first year with the Broncos did not show much improvement, either.

Flash forward to now: Brandon Lloyd leads the NFL in yards receiving.

I will give you a moment to let that sink in. If you don't believe me, click here.

He is a spark plug in a high-passing Broncos offense (it feels funny saying that) and is turning out to be one of Kyle Orton's favorite long-range targets.