Tom Brady or Michael Vick: Which Quarterback is the 2010 NFL MVP?

The NFL MVP race is coming down to two players, Tom Brady and Michael Vick. Both quarterbacks added to their resumes today by leading their teams to fourth quarter comebacks. It seems that the further we go, the harder it is to decide who has stood up more.

With apologies to Philip Rivers, who is arguably actually having the best season of any quarterback, particularly when you consider the revolving door of receivers he's had to throw to, and to Matt Ryan, who has his Atlanta Falcons on the precipice of clinching homefield through the playoffs, there is no one else in the conversation at this point. 

I say this taking two things into account. First, both Brady and Vick have had stellar statistical seasons, and have produced enormously on the field. They also have their teams on top of their divisions and in very good shape to go far in the playoffs. In fact, it's not at all unlikely these two will face one another in the Super Bowl. 

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Brady leads the NFL in passer rating with 110, and Vick is third with 104. Brady also has 11 more touchdown passes, and the two have the same number of interceptions. Brady also has about five more yards passing per game. The New England QB has the clear edge with the arm.

However, what Vick does with his legs may put him in front. His 613 yards rushing more than compensate for the yardage difference in passing. His eight rushing touchdowns are seven more than Brady's one. All in all, it's hard to really find separation between the two statistically. 

For now, I'm inclined to give the nod to Brady for two reasons. First, his team has a better record. Some will argue that shouldn't make a difference. I think it should, and historically it has.

I don't think it should be the only factor, which is why I don't think Ryan is in the conversation, but if all things else are equal, I have no problem with it being the deciding factor. 

The other reason I feel inclined to give it to Brady is that he's played the whole season. While Michael Vick's story is great, that doesn't and shouldn't play into the MVP discussion. There's the whole prison thing and the second start thing, and all of the things that make the story so great. 

Part of the story is that he filled in so well when Kevin Kolb got injured and that he eventually earned the starting job.

Again, all of that makes for an incredible story, but it also makes a shorter season with fewer games played. Tom Brady played them all. Again, given that so many of the other things are equal or close to it, shouldn't the player who has started more games get the nod? 

I know that in our sensational media, there are a number of people who would love to cap the story by awarding Michael Vick the MVP award, but this shouldn't be about what happened off the field. It should be about what happens on it.

Brady has done more on it, in large part just because he's been on it more. Unless something significant changes over the next two weeks, put my vote in for Tom Brady as MVP.