Pigskin prognosticators compete for local charities

Football is a 12-man game.

At least, this year in The Press it is.

Twelve strong-spirited armchair quarterbacks have agreed to compete against each other throughout the NFL season, which begins Thursday. At stake is more than pride in their pigskin-picking prowess.

In addition to guessing which team will win each game this season, the players were asked to select a local nonprofit that will benefit if that player has the best record after the Super Bowl. Whoever ends up with the best record will win four half-page ads in The Press that his nonprofit can use to its best advantage before the end of 2016. Second place earns two half-page ads in The Press, while third place is awarded one half-page ad. Ads can be used however the nonprofit chooses: To promote fundraisers, recognize sponsors or prominent donors, and so on.

Every Thursday in the Sports section, the players and their picks will be listed. Their records will be tracked, and friendly smack talk will be strongly encouraged.

Here are this season's combatants, their affiliation and the local nonprofit of their choosing. For the record, players were asked not to duplicate charities, but we made one exception.

* Steve Widmyer, Coeur d'Alene mayor, St. Vincent de Paul of North Idaho

* Ron Jacobson, Post Falls mayor, Post Falls Food Bank

* Jon Ness, Kootenai Health CEO, CASA

* Rick Rasmussen, Northwest Specialty Hospital CEO, United Way of Kootenai County

* Jim Addis, Lake City Ford, Boys & Girls Club of Kootenai County

* Mike White, Parker Toyota, Kootenai County Police and Fire Memorial Fund

* Chris Carper, Paddy's Sports Bar, Kootenai Health Patient Support

* Kelly Nosworthy, Nosworthy's Hall of Fame, Matt's Place Foundation

* Van Troxel, LCHS football coach, Jeff Hinz Cancer Fund

* Shawn Amos, CHS football coach, Jeff Hinz Cancer fund

* Al Williams, North Idaho College athletic director, NIC Booster Club

* Mark Nelke, Press sports editor, Kootenai Humane Society