Very sad - and disappointing, but not surprising.

Not to make a direct connection between the prowess on the field and the character of the athlete off the field is almost certain to disappoint - but should not surprise us.

Paul Allen finally got the message in Portland. Finding the best athletes to build a team that will "succeed" requires examining the character and competency.

Failing to heed this maxim, Allen lost tens of millions of dollars over several seasons and only in the last two years has come to his senses. And Portland has responded in spades.

How many mocked the Spurs for their boring, uninteresting players? Boring all the way to the bank. And the hall of fame, at least a couple.

Imagine how many professional athletes have cleaned up their off-field stuff in the last couple months? And young athletes headed to the pros got this message, too.

It's more fun to watch excellent athletes you can be proud of, than thugs who succeed for a season or two.

Michael McLaughlin, Portland, OR

I have spent most of my adult life highlighting animal welfare issues, and this report beggars belief. These dogs are born into a world of cruelty, where fighting is their only course of survival. When found, they are not adoptable, and are humanely euthanized. There are no happy ending for these poor creatures. Prison sentences are usually minimal, if any, and fines nominal. It is sickening.

Nina Cole, Eaton Bray, Beds

A toerag. Good riddance.

J Darke, Brno, Czecg Republic

He deserves the maximum penalty. Our youth (mistakenly) looks up to these so called football "heroes" and what an example we have with this one. It makes one wonder about the human race.

john greenall, ringgold, ga

What a foolish way to end such an exciting and opportunitic career, Did he not have any satisfaction from his accomplishments... Life is about having fun and being happy, how could he be happy brutally killing dogs, obviously someone with no conscience.

Sridhar Goli, Herndon, USA/Virginia

If we allow him back into the NFL, we're sending a message to all of the kids out there, from college down to gradeschool that you can break any laws you want and still be successful. That's not the message I want to be sending to my children. Show me a celebrity that I can use as an example to my children that if they choose to break the law and flaunt the rules, their lives could be ruined and the great things they could accomplish superceded by bad decisions. Courtney Love? Britney Spears? Lindsay Lohan? Robert Downey Jr? All examples that you can break the law and get away with it as long as you have money and fame.

illyria kelly, Langhorne, Pa

Incredible!

M Katt, London,

What a horrid, horrid man. I hope that his career is over and he is legally prevented from owning an animal ever again.

Dan, Hampton, UK

He is the biggest idiot out there. I hope he rots in prison.

mike vivar, houston, texas

Wahhh Wahhh Wahhh

I can't wait to see where the rest of his career is going to go. Eventually people will forget just as fast as they do about these so called stars who beat their wives and get involved in shootings.

We are just as pathetic as they are for their crimes by simply forgetting the things that they do. And to the people who keep saying it's not a bog deal.....jump in the ring with the dogs then and tell me how it goes for you. ;-)

Alice Jones, Philadelphia, PA

Vick should be banned for at least a year in addition to any prison time. That's probably enough to end his career, (he was beginning to be less effective, the psychological effects of the boos he will hear if he ever does return are probably not endurable either by him or any team that would use him). We should have some sympathy for him; after all he may not have had the opportunity for basic humanity in a life of poverty followed by unbelievable temptations. If there is a lesson, it's that we lionize sports and athletes to a MUCH greater degree than they desrve. It's really sad that our national passion is wasted on Super Bowls, Nascar and WWF rather than our original ideals of liberty, freedom, and truth.

Jan Baisden, Kernersville, NC

Much to do about nothing, compare to the execution style killings of the college studenst in Newark, NJ or the loss lives of American Soldiers and innocent Iraqi civilians.

W. Dinkins, Pleasant Valley, USA NY

Ali, what do you mean nobody was hurt? He tortured animals for fun and profit. What a great guy, I hope he rots in ____.

mark, Seattle, WA

He shouldn't be banned from the NFL at all. He's going to do the time and that's his punishment.

Let's not forget nobody was hurt. Hopefully Michael will convert to Islam in prison and come out a better, more rounded individual and a better athlete.

Ali, London, UK

Yet another football thug. At least this one may spend time behind bars. Too many don't.

Michael, Austin,

I beleive that if people enjoy hurting animals that they will sooner or later start to hurt people, If you can do those things to a dog, what would stop you from Rape or worse???

tom smith, winchester, ky

Incredible

M Katt, London,

People that enjoy inflicting pain on helpless living things, ...........dogs, cats, animals.......are usually not sorry or repentent for their actions, but simply sorry that they got caught.
I see Michale Vick as one of those people. If he and his cohort oof thugs were not caught and held accountable by the law, they would undoubtedly still be in the dog fighting business and think nothing of the pain and suffering those poor animals were undergoing. Michae Vick is getting what he deserves from the choices he made............. it is that simple.

Bowman, Madison, Georgia

I hate all forms of animal cruelty. But as everyone knows illegal fox hunting, including cubs will start shortly. Its a national disgrace. If this looney is locked up and fined then so should the perverts who break the law tormenting wildlife for pleasure.

Roger Southall, Wolverhampton, UK

He deserves alot more than what he will "get away with" 12-18 months. He deserves life in prison

Halyn, Somerset, Kentucky, USA, KY

Hopefully Mr Vick will get what he so richly deserves, prison and heavy fines. Ever since sports teams have become big money pits, they have lost touch with their fans, their sport, and reality. All because of greed. Whatever happened to them being "role models" and giving kids someone to respect and look-up to? Good "sportsmanship" has gone the way of "common sense". It is dead upon arrival. Were it not for those that have known hardships, fought for freedom, and still believe in biblical principals...our country would be nothing more than another third world nation fighting for survival on an ill fated planet. If current conduct relects the future, once the current generations are in control, the United States will be history like so many other countries . Our greatness is quickly becoming weakness thanks to those like Mr Vick and the weak minded, gutless politicians running this nation. Vanity...all is vanity.

Ted Adams, New Smyrna, FL

If guilty, as he would appear to have admitted, he should be sentenced to a life of poverty and ignomy

Paul Donnelly, LONDON,

I think it is despicable that he is allowed to plea bargain. He should be tried and punished and banned for life from the NFL. Neither my family nor I will watch any NFL games unless and until he is suspended forever.

Linda Henderson, Albany, Georgia

Children who treat animals like this often grow up to be "sick" adults. This is an adult who the NFL pays handsomely, and millions idolized.....what else is someone who is involved in such hainous activity capable of doing? The NFL would be jeopardizing their credibility to do anything but dismiss Vick.

Barb, Chicago,

Vick's should be barred from all professional sports - FOREVER! Also he should never be allowed to profit from his version of "If I did it".
This is the point at which he is probably receiving numerous book deals.

J. Bintliff, Castle Rock, Co

Let's not forget that Vick is also guilty of gambling, and because of that he is supposed to be banned from the NFL for life. He took a chance when he set up his dog fighting ring and now he has to pay the price.

John Brown, St Petersburg, Florida

What a seriously sick individual!

As they say, you can take the man out of the ghetto, but you can't take the ghetto out of the man.

George D, Washington,

he should be sent to jail and treated the same way he treated his dogs,then he may realise houw brutal his actions were.
he deserve no symphaty of any kind,,only jail time,not just 18 months,but 180!
race or color has nothing to do about the way i feel...ijust happen to be an animal lover!
just can not tolerate cruelty to animals!!

ramon cruz, aguadilla, puerto rico