The first-ever online Boothbay Register/Wiscasset Newspaper Staff Pro Football Challenge continues into the second half of the NFL season. Each week, staff members Ben “The Incredible Bulk” Bulkeley, Kevin “The Hammer” Burnham, Nicole “The Lion” Lyons, Katrina “The Ninja” Clark, Mike “Big Scar” Scarborough, Mike “The Iron Horse” Marr and Gary “Mad Stork” Dow “try” to pick the winners of each NFL game by Wednesday evening (each week there is a Thursday game). The winner (best winning percentage) at the end of the regular season will be treated to a prize (we haven’t come up with one yet). We will post each players record from the following week.

Week 9 standings: Ben 8-5; Katrina 7-6; Gary 7-6; Kevin 7-6; Mike S. 7-6; Nicole 6-7; Mike M. 6-7;

Overall: Ben 82-51; Kevin 80-53; Mike M. 78-55; Mike S. 77-56; Nicole 75-58; Katrina 73-60; Gary 70-63

Week 9 Comments: Ben wins another week's picks and takes a two-game lead. Miami wins then falls apart. Gary wins with Cleveland (yeah)! Oakland failed six of us. Who are the NY Jets? Tough week for most of us.

Week 10 Prognosis: New England has a week off to heal. Denver returns to action at San Diego — close one? Missing starting QB's (Philadelphia at Green Bay). Carolina at San Francisco and Cincinnati at Baltimore should be good games to watch. Will Miami be able to come together as a team in a hostile environment? Will Jacksonville win this week? Nobody picked them here, but there are a few split picks this week.

Week 10 picks

Washington at Minnesota: Washington: Mike S. Gary, Mike M., Kevin, Ben; Minnesota: Katrina, Nicole

Buffalo at Pittsburgh: Buffalo: Kevin, Ben; Pittsburgh: Mike S., Gary, Katrina, Mike M., Nicole

Cincinnati at Baltimore: Cincinnati: Mike S., Mike M., Ben, Nicole; Baltimore: Gary, Katrina, Kevin

Detroit at Chicago: Detroit: Gary, Katrina, Ben; Chicago: Mike S., Mike M., Kevin, Nicole

Jacksonville at Tennessee: Jacksonville: Tennessee: Mike S., Gary, Katrina, Mike M., Kevin, Ben, Nicole

Oakland at NY Giants: Oakland: Mike M., Nicole; NY Giants: Mike S., Gary, Katrina, Kevin, Ben

Philadelphia at Green Bay: Philadelphia: Gary, Mike M., Kevin, Ben, Nicole; Green Bay: Mike S., Katrina

Seattle at Atlanta: Seattle: Mike S., Katrina, Mike M., Kevin, Ben; Atlanta: Gary, Nicole

St. Louis at Indianapolis: St. Louis: Indianapolis: Mike S., Gary, Katrina, Mike M., Kevin, Ben, Nicole

Carolina at San Francisco: Carolina: Ben, Nicole; San Francisco: Mike S., Gary, Katrina, Mike M., Kevin

Denver at San Diego: Denver: Mike S., Katrina, Mike M., Kevin; San Diego: Gary, Ben, Nicole

Houston at Arizona: Houston: Katrina, Nicole; Arizona: Mike S., Gary, Mike M., Kevin

Dallas at New Orleans: Dallas: Gary, Nicole; New Orleans: Mike S., Katrina, Mike M., Kevin, Ben

Miami at Tampa Bay: Miami: Mike S., Gary, Katrina, Kevin, Nicole; Tampa Bay: Mike M., Ben

The players

Ben “The Incredible Bulk” Bulkeley used to play football. He used to weigh over 200 pounds, but he wanted to play wide receiver, so he slimmed down drinking Slim Fast and cutting down on his Devil Dog consumption.

Kevin “The Hammer” Burnham played football locally and was on the 1973 Class D championship team, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this season. He played linebacker and running back and suffered a few concussions during his playing days ... which may explain a lot.

Nicole “The Lion” Lyons watches football ... sometimes.

Katrina “The Ninja” Clark likes to make her picks by blindfolding herself and throwing darts at the chart in her backyard. Once in a while she even hits it. More often she hits the squirrels.

Mike "Big Scar" Scarborough last played organized football in junior high. He played both ways as a lineman, offensive and defensive tackle. Big Scar was a "speed lineman," who loved nothing better than running down a QB in the backfield.

Gary "Mad Stork" Dow played defensive end for the 1972 Class A state runner-up Edward Little "Red Eddies" of Auburn. He alleges he was selected "All-State" but since this was before the creation of the Internet, there is no way to confirm it. He went to play for the University of Maine from 1973-1976 as a defensive end and outside linebacker. He states he won Eastern Collegiate Athletic Association (ECAC) Player of the Week honors against Bucknell University in the fall of 1975, but again, there is no way to confirm this claim either.

Mike “The Iron Horse” Marr made a name for himself in junior high and intramural sports with his aggressive and undisciplined playing technique, often going for the biggest guy on the field and stiff arming. When in a clutch position on the field, he drew attention by using modern dance techniques, something nobody wanted to see. To this day, he still can't watch “Flashdance” without tapping his feet.