LANDOVER, Md. -- The Washington Redskins did Michael Vick a massive favor Monday afternoon. They signed Donovan McNabb to a five-year extension worth $78 million that raised eyebrows across the country -- and definitely in the Eagles' locker room. 
 
 The Redskins made a decision based on hope rather than production. Only two weeks after head coach Mike Shanahan clumsily yanked McNabb from a game that hadn't been decided, the organization made a long-term commitment in the name of stability. 
 
 But McNabb's former team has a mercenary quarterback who may be the best in the league right now. And based on his record-breaking performance in a 59-28 beatdown of the Redskins at FedEx Field, Vick will be asking for more than McNabb money. It's hard to feel sorry for a man who reportedly received $40 million in guaranteed money (that total seems more ridiculous every time I type it), but McNabb looked old and slow in comparison to Vick. The Eagles quarterback was 20-of-28 for 333 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. For good measure, he ran eight times for 80 yards and two more touchdowns. He's the first player in league history to do all of those things in one game. 
 
 Vick refuses to slide like most quarterbacks, so there's always the threat of injury. But if he can stay in one piece, the Eagles have a chance to do something special this season. They pulled into a tie with the New York Giants atop the NFC East with a 6-3 record. With the Skins pretty much bowing out of the division competition based on their woeful effort Monday, this is now a two-horse race. I'd wager that Philadelphia has the best horse in the field with Vick. 
 
 His brilliance was on display on the first play from scrimmage when the Eagles convinced the Redskins they were running to the right before Vick doubled back to his left on a naked bootleg. His back foot was on his own 3-yard line when he launched a pass that arrived in DeSean Jackson's arms at the Redskins' 34-yard line. Safety LaRon Landry has had a Pro Bowl-caliber season, but he never had a chance on the play. In fact, Eagles coach Andy Reid seemed a bit surprised that Landry was even close enough to clutch Jackson's jersey for a moment. 
 
 "The safety did a better job than we anticipated," deadpanned Reid. 
 
 When Vick is on his game, I'm not sure there's a team in the NFC capable of beating the Eagles. The team has won all four of the games he's been able to start and complete. The Redskins attempted to assign a spy to Vick on almost every play, but that only gave him a better chance in the passing game. And it's not like there's a spy on the Skins' roster capable of matching Vick's speed in the open field. 
 
 On the Eagles' second touchdown, Vick scrambled around right end and froze Redskins outside linebacker Lorenzo Alexander with a hard inside move. The 7-yard run put the Eagles up 14-0, and the Skins never had a chance from that point. In fact, they never had a chance at any point. Vick's game has a video-game quality to it that isn't lost on his teammates. Redskins pass-rushers were so fearful of his feet that they gave him an inordinate amount of time in the pocket. It's almost unfair that Vick plays with perhaps the best collection of wide receivers in the league. Jeremy Maclin made a leaping grab early in the second quarter to make it 35-0 and Jason Avant had five catches for 76 yards and a touchdown. The Eagles' interest in the game waned for a few minutes in the second quarter, but they managed to cling to a 45-14 advantage at halftime. 
 
 "We all grew up with Michael Vick on Madden," said right tackle Winston Justice, who played well against Redskins Pro Bowl outside linebacker Brian Orakpo. "We're all about 25 or 26, so we would win at Madden with Vick." 
 
 But I'm not sure any video game can accurately simulate what Vick did to the Redskins in the first half. He was 14-of-18 for 264 yards and three touchdowns and had a perfect passer rating of 158.3 -- if you're into that sort of thing. One of Vick's mentors, McNabb, finished the night 17-of-31 for 295 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. No word on whether the Skins will ask McNabb to redo his contract following such a humiliating loss. 
 
 The Redskins made a significant commitment to McNabb, in part, because it's hard to plan a marketing campaign around Rex Grossman. (Believe me, Kyle Shanahan has tried.) Vick's talented enough to put a team on his shoulders and take it deep into the playoffs. No offense to Joey Galloway, but the soon-to-turn 34-year-old McNabb desperately needs more talent around him in Washington. Of course, they used to say the same thing about him when he played for the Eagles. 
 
 "He has this attitude, 'I'm gonna score and you guys can help if you want,'" said Justice of Vick. "Some quarterbacks talk about climbing the hill as a team, but he says, 'I'm gonna score this TD.'" 
 
 And in Monday's game, Vick was true to his word. 
 
 It was one of the best single performances in league history. Now we all wait to see what he'll do next. ||||| Chris McGrath/Getty Images 
 
 When Michael Vick defeated Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts I proposed a question: Is Vick the MVP of the NFL up to this point? 
 
 After what I witnessed last night I have no further questions but merely a statement. 
 
 Michael Vick is not on the best quarterback in the NFL he is the best football player in the league. 
 
 Even though Donovan McNabb signed a 5-year 78 million dollar contract, it was Vick who electrified the crowd on Monday Night. Vick led his Philadelphia Eagles to 59-28 thrashing of the Washington Redskins. 
 
 On the first play of the game Vick dropped back to pass and threw an 88-yard strike to Desean Jackson for a touchdown. Vick finished the contest completing 20-28 passes for 333 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. He also rushed eight times for 80-yards and two touchdowns. More importantly Vick didn’t commit a single turnover. 
 
 He’s thrown 11 touchdowns and no interceptions. 
 
 It was the Michael Vick show last night. 
 
 Based on the way he played last night against an NFC rival on the road leaves little doubt in my mind Vick is the best player on the field every time he puts on the pads on. 
 
 Can I get a witness? 
 
 If you had a vote today would Michael Vick be your MVP of the league right now? Yes No Submit Vote vote to see results If you had a vote today would Michael Vick be your MVP of the league right now? Yes 85.1% 
 
 No 14.9% Total votes: 87 
 
 As I was watching Vick play the quarterback position like no other quarterback before I reflected back to the summer of 2009 while he in search of a team and sitting in his Virginia home on house-arrest. Very few teams wanted to sign Vick because they didn’t know what they were getting. 
 
 I remember the likes of ESPN’s Trent Dilfer and Cris Carter stating Vick may have to switch positions if a team signs him. They felt his particular skill set would be best suited playing running back or wide receiver. 
 
 I remember watching Mike and Mike on ESPN and listening to Mike Greenburg suggest Vick should opt to play in the UFL because he likely won’t get to play in the NFL let alone as a quarterback in the NFL. 
 
 The madness prompted me to write a column in June of 2009 titled, “Should Michael Vick Return to the NFL as a Quarterback?” Take the liberty to read it for yourself. 
 
 In the commentary I addressed why African-Americans routinely asked to switch positions when their white counterparts are not. I issued the following, “In Vick’s case, he didn’t go to prison for being a bad quarterback. He went to prison for the decisions he made off the field. 
 
 When Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank made Vick the highest paid player in the league he was quarterback wasn’t he?” 
 
 Chris McGrath/Getty Images 
 
 I stated emphatically Vick should come back as a quarterback and once he signs with a team and shakes off the rust he will be one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL again. 
 
 I stated, “Despite missing nearly two years of football Vick is still better than many of those quarterbacks who expect to start next season. I’ll give you Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Donovan McNabb. After that, Vick can step in with most teams and start once he rids himself of the rust.” 
 
 I think it is safe to say the rust is now gone. 
 
 We witnessed what Vick did against Peyton Manning last week, we are still digesting what he did against McNabb and the Redskins last night. How can anyone logically suggest Vick is not only the best quarterback in the NFL but the best football player? 
 
 Let’s put this into further perspective; Vick nearly lost it all because of the poor choices he made off the field. 
 
 He sat in prison for 18 long months. 
 
 He came out of prison to find and endure consistent public humiliation and ridicule. 
 
 Vick finds teams do not want to sign him because of his past. 
 
 The Eagles give him a second chance to make a first impression. Vick finally rids himself of the last year's rust and comes into this season as the back-up to Kevin Kolb. 
 
 Kolb sustains a concussion against the Green Bay Packers. Vick steps in, takes his second chance and goes the distance. 
 
 Vick played so well it forced head coach Andy Reid to state, “When someone is playing at the level Michael Vick is playing, you have to give him an opportunity." He continued, "This isn't about Kevin Kolb's play. You're talking about Michael Vick as one the best quarterbacks in the NFL right now." 
 
 Can anyone logical refute Reid’s assessment going into next weeks NFC showdown with the 6-3 New York Giants? 
 
 The so-called experts like Dilfer, Carter and Greenburg have to eat crow. 
 
 Vick’s play is forcing the doubters to sing his praises. Remember, just because so-called experts and ex-athletes are on television consistently doesn’t mean they know what they are talking about. 
 
 I saw what type of quarterback Vick was in Atlanta and knew what he could be once he latched on to a team. Based on how he is playing now can anyone imagine Vick playing another position as the so-called experts suggested? 
 
 I rest my case. ||||| Michael Vick of the Philadelphia Eagles runs with the ball during a game against the Washington Redskins Hunter Martin/Getty Images 
 
 Just 18 months ago, Michael Vick was in prison. Now he’s setting NFL records. 
 
 If Vick wasn’t part of the NFL MVP conversation before his epic outing on Monday Night Football, he sure is now. After missing three games with a rib injury, all he’s done since returning to the field is lead the Philadelphia Eagles past Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts last week; against the division rival Washington Redskins last night, he became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for over 300 yards (he finished with 333), rush for over 50 yards (he had 80), throw four touchdown passes, and rush for two more touchdowns. The Eagles scored 28 points in the first quarter alone, and crushed the Redskins 59-28. In the six games he has played this year, Vick still hasn’t committed a turnover. 
 
 On the first play of the game, Vick connected with Philadelphia wide receiver DeSean Jackson — the pair is quickly becoming the most lethal quarterback-receiver combo in the game — on an 88-yard touchdown pass, and the rout was on. Somehow, Vick has emerged as a more poised pocket-passer than he was in his pre-prison days, and has maintained his athleticism despite 18-months of relative inactivity while in jail. 
 
 The Eagles are 6-3, and since no other NFL team has emerged as a clear Super Bowl favorite, Vick’s redemption tale could keep gaining momentum. Two years ago, could anyone have imagined that Michael Vick would be the planet’s best football player in 2010? That the NFL may be marketing a convicted felon as the face of the league down the stretch? 
 
 More on TIME.com: The top 10 disgraced athletes 
 
 Many will wonder if Vick’s on-field exploits will eventually overshadow his off-field foibles. Hopefully, they won’t. Why should Vick’s skill as a football player determine how we judge him as a human? Those who think he got a raw deal for running a dog-fighting ring, or are more inclined to give a troubled guy a second chance, or are impressed with the community service Vick has done in Philadelphia since being released, would be pulling for him even if he struggled. Those who think that Vick’s despicable treatment of dogs is unforgivable won’t give absolve him, just because he’s tossing touchdown passes (OK, a more than a few Eagles fans probably will). Too often, we ascribe the accomplishments, or failures, of athletes onto their character as people. If the Tiger Woods debacle taught us anything, it’s that we should stop that unfortunate habit. 
 
 Vick is a victim, Vick is a lout. Both views are personal, and completely legitimate. But for anyone who appreciates football, the view is universal: Michael Vick is an electrifying player, and watching his 2010 season unfold could be truly special. 
 
 More on TIME.com: The top 10 sports comebacks
– Michael Vick eviscerated the Washington Redskins last night, throwing for 333 yards and four touchdowns, and running for another 80 yards and two more touchdowns, an unprecedented, record-breaking accomplishment. “He’s got my MVP vote,” Washington linebacker London Fletcher told the Washington Post after the game. Is the ex-con really that good? Here’s what people are saying: “It was one of the best single performances in league history,” gushes Matt Mosley of ESPN. “When Vick is on his game, I’m not sure there’s a team in the NFC capable of beating the Eagles.” Dexter Rogers at Bleacher Report takes the opportunity to mock the “experts” who doubted Vick two years ago, or told him to switch positions. Because after last night’s game, “How can anyone logically suggest Vick is not only the best quarterback in the NFL but the best football player?” The “epic” game definitely vaulted Vick into the MVP discussion, writes Sean Gregory of Time, but hopefully it doesn’t make anyone forget his dark past. “Why should Vick’s skill as a football player determine how we judge him as a human?” he asks. “Too often, we ascribe the accomplishments, or failures, of athletes to their character as people.”