The first-ever online Boothbay Register/Wiscasset Newspaper Staff Pro Football Challenge continues. 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 6 standings: Ben 12-3, Katrina 10-5, Mike S. 10-5, Mike M. 9-6, Nicole 8-7, Kevin 8-7, Gary 7-8

Overall: Kevin 56-36; Ben 56-36; Nicole 55-37; Mike M. 55-37; Mike S. 53-39; Katrina 48-44; Gary 44-48

Week 6 Comment: The Challenge standings tightened up with Ben and Mike S. having good weeks. Cleveland's three straight wins suckered five us into picking them to defeat Detroit, but wasn't to be. Tom Brady's heroics gave Gary and Katrina a needed victory to stay in the hunt for the Challenge crown, while the rest of us were still happy that the Patriots won, even though we got a loss in the standings.

Week 7 Prognosis: Parity, parity, parity .... Who will take a step forward and who will fall back? Several in-division games this week. Will Brady wreck Rex again? Can Washington stay alive for a chance at the playoffs by beating the Bears? Peyton returns “home” to Indianapolis — homecoming cheers or no mercy for 60 minutes? Will brother Eli finally get his first win of the season over the almost-as-bad Vikings?

 Week 7 picks

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

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

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

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

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

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

Houston at Kansas City: Houston: Gary; Kansas City: Katrina, Nicole, Kevin, Mike S., Mike M., Ben

New England at NY Jets: New England: Katrina, Nicole, Kevin, Mike S., Gary, Mike M., Ben; NY Jets:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Minnesota at NY Giants: Minnesota: Nicole, Mike S.; NY Giants: Katrina, Kevin, Gary, 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.