anastasia: Sadly I don't think much is going to happen to Michael Vick (or the other defendants), as Emma said, it's only animal abuse and cruelty, and our standards of punishment aren't strict enough where that's concerned.....Anyone know if there are any actual felony charges pending, or is it all just misdemeanors?

srnity: I think(as anastasia mentioned) it's important to remember the aspect of image in his situation.He's losing endorsements left and right.I doubt he'll be proven to not be involved in the sport,that alone will destroy his career,regardless of it being declared a misdemenor or felony.

wetware: I think..and maybe this is a really bad comparision here..please forgive me if it is...but....sort of like O.J Simpson...he was found not guilty of a horrific crime but look at his public reputation..he has a scarlet letter branded on him forever now because of the trail...Vick, now...no matter if he even goes to trail or not....has a scarlet letter on him now.Sometimes public conviction is better then any court can hand out.

Jim Dandy: There's a huge difference between being charged with misdemeanors and/or being charged with a felony crime in the US. A misdemeanor means you pay some fines and get slapped on the wrist, maybe, with a strict judge, a bit of probation - basically, your free. A felony is a whole different world. There are statutes set in our courts for each crime that judges are supposed (ha-ha) to go by. But, as wetware said, money talks, and Michael Vick is not only a VERY talented and admired NFL Quarterback but he's worth millions upon millions, endorsements or not. We shall see.....maybe, just maybe, they'll nail him

srnity: Again,I agree with anastasia's last comment.Forget the penalty he recieves,if he's shown to have been involved to the degee it's been described,he's finished in the court of public opinion.