In terms of improbable reputation redemptions of the 21st century, New York Jets quarterback Michael Vick had been in a class by himself. Until now.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that San Francisco offensive tackle Anthony Davis tweeted that he asked San Diego Charger linebacker Manti Te'o about his imaginary girlfriend on Sunday. The tweet came a day after the Chargers erased a 21-point deficit and defeated the 49ers 38-35 in San Francisco to knock the Niners out of playoff contention and keep theiir hopes alive.

2013 poll lists Manti Te'o as the second-most disliked player in the NFL

National media picked up on the story - and lauded Te'o for the way he handled the two-year old joke..

Davis tweeted, "I asked Manti Teo about his imaginary Girlfriend last night and he snapped. lol I thought that was hilarious."

To which the media rushed to Te'o's defense.

"Te'o had his own laugh," the Union-Tribune reported. "That joke. Still?"

Te'o was surprised that the joke is still a topic of discussion.

"I got harassed a few times last year [on the field]. I expected that. But this year?" Te'o told the Union-Tribune earlier this week. "I told him, 'Find a new joke.' "

The Union-Tribune then lauded Te'o as "evolving."

The end of Te'o's senior season at Notre Dame and the subsequent preparation to enter the NFL Draft was disrupted by the discovery that a girlfriend that Te'o claimed to have in an ESPN interview turned out to be fake.

Te'o's claims that he was not aware his girlfriend didn't exist encountered great skepticism when the story broke. Some of that initial skepticism turned into criticism of a senior student-athlete, who was portrayed at the very least as an extremely naïve NFL prospect who would have a hard time staying on an NFL roster because of the controversy and ridicule over his fake girlfriend.

Yahoo! Sports also commented on the report, under the headline, "Manti Te'o has snappy comeback over fake girlfriend taunt."

"Not a bad comeback," Yahoo! Sports commented. "...You'd think Davis would be more downtrodden about his flailing team blowing a 28-7 lead and losing to the Chargers, but it must have been a heck of a joke, albeit a little dated."

Even ESPN noted that Davis' remark didn't faze Te'o, reporting the fact that the former Notre Dame linebacker played a career-high 72 snaps, recorded a team-high 11 tackles and notched his first career sack.

The Union-Tribune also reported that it was Te'o who gave an impassioned speech to the team the night before it played the 49ers.

"Te'o inspired his teammates Friday evening and played every defensive snap the next night, contributing to a 38-35 comeback win over the 49ers that saved the Chargers' season," the publication reported. "These are the important things, the things that matter."

Whose restored reputation are you more impressed with? Michael Vick's or Manti Te'o's? Comment below or tell us @SportsWN.