I'm not a lawyer, nor do I play one on television or anything like that. However, in my limited understanding of the legal community, I think I've managed to piece this much together: If the prosecution feels as though they don't have a super-strong case against a defendant, they will attempt to plea-bargain the prospective defendant down to a lesser charge.

I can only assume, then, that if the prosecuting attorney decides they have enough on you to increase the charges levied against you, that it would mean the opposite.

Chris Cook, the Vikings cornerback charged with choking his girlfriend, will now answer to a second felony assault charge after the woman reported suffering hearing loss after the alleged attack. ... Cook was charged with felony domestic assault. On Nov. 10, the Hennepin County Attorney's office amended the complaint to add a second felony charge of third-degree assault. According to court documents, the woman suffered a perforated ear drum and confirmed to prosecutors that she now has hearing loss. Cook, who is free from jail on $40,000 bail, is ordered not to contact the woman. According to court documents, prosecutors intend to show that Cook allegedly committed additional offenses on other occasions. They will also seek an aggravated sentence for the alleged assault.

Yes, I know. . .innocent until proven guilty and everything, and I still firmly believe in that. But the writing is pretty clearly on the wall in this one, in my opinion. Chris Cook is never going to play another down for the Minnesota Vikings, and even though it may sound foolish from a purely football standpoint, it would be in their best interest to cut him right now. If another NFL team wants to take a gamble on him and deal with the impending circus, good for them. There's no reason for the Vikings to have to deal with it any more.