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 3 standings

Nicole 8-8, Mike M. 8-8, Mike S. 8-8, Katrina 8-8, Kevin 7-9, Ben 7-9, Gary 6-10

Overall: Mike M. 31-17; Kevin 29-19; Ben 28-20; Nicole 28-20; Mike S. 26-14; Gary 24-24; Katrina 22-26

Week 3 Comments: Cleveland ROCKED this week, upsetting Minnesota at home and giving everyone in the Challenge a loss. This was a tough week to call, which is why most of us were around the .500 mark.

Week 4 Prognosis: Intriguing games include: Chicago at Detroit — who is actually better in 2013?; Pittsburgh at Minnesota — who wants their first win more?; New England at Atlanta — will the Pats come down to earth (if Gronk doesn't return) and will the Falcons bounce back after their road loss at Miami?; and Cincinnati at Cleveland — could the winning Brownies return home and mount a winning streak?

Nobody in the Challenge thinks so! We think Gary is trying to catch up in the standings (or is he hoping for miracles) as he is all alone with picking the Giants, the Texans and the Jets. Ben is also going it alone with the Bills and Dolphins.

 Week 4 picks

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 by 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.