The first-ever online Boothbay Register/Wiscasset Newspaper Staff Pro Football Challenge enters 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 8 standings: Ben 11-2; Katrina 10-3; Gary 9-4; Kevin 9-4; Mike M. 9-4; Mike S. 9-4; Nicole 7-6

Overall: Ben 74-46; Kevin 73-47; Mike M. 72-48; Mike S. 70-50; Nicole 69-51; Katrina 66-54; Gary 63-59

Week 8 Comments: Ben takes over the standings with another outstanding week. Katrina is catching up with Nicole with a great week. The Dallas choke hurt a few of us. Glad the World Series was on so we didn't have to watch the Monday Night snoozer between Seattle and St. Louis.

Week 9 Prognosis: Another week of 13 picks .... Getting a bit easier, but on any given week (Ahem, Philadelphia, losing to the Giants at home; you should be ashamed of yourselves!) Is there a lock this week? Maybe Seattle over Tampa Bay? Toss-up? Perhaps Philadelphia at Oakland; the Eagles are far from what they were in week 1 and it is questionable whether Oakland can beat both Pennsylvania teams in consecutive weeks, although Philadelphia has never won in Oakland.

Week 9 picks

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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