Yes, it's that time again...and because certain degenerates (you know who you are ) can't wait a few weeks to put bets down, I might as well kick the weekly pick 'em contest off right now. As I did last year, I will keep Bret "pottedplant" as the Forum's NFL pool namesake. In case anyone has forgotten, jb126 won the pool last year. Since we have been doing this for a few years now, I shouldn't have to explain the rules. But for those newcomers to the Forum, it's pretty simple... 1. I will post each week's schedule of games in a timely manner. You simply pick which team will win each particular game that week. 2. No need to worry about point spreads or odds. Whichever team wins is all that matters...whether they win by one point or twenty,as long as the team you chose won the game it counts as a win for you. 3. A game ending in a tie after overtime goes down as a tie for you...not a win or a loss. 4. All picks for the week must be posted on this thread before that week's games kickoff. For the Thursday games, that game's pick must be posted before game time Thursday. If you want to post all that week's picks on Thursday you can, but it's not mandatory. If you would rather wait until Friday or Saturday to post your picks for the Sunday and Monday games, that's fine. 5. You can change your pick for any game as many times as you want in the days leading up to the game. But whatever your pick is once the Sunday games commence (or Thursday if it's a Thursday game), that pick is set in stone. 6. If you can't get your picks posted in time, due to internet/computer troubles or work/family/life issues, you can ask another person to submit your picks for you. Just have someone give me a heads up...either yourself or the person posting your picks. 7. I will do my best to post each week's tally and the weekly winner in a timely manner...by Tuesday morning after the completion of the Monday Night Game. Starting with the second week, there will be a weekly tally and season-to-date tally ranking the totals for every contestant. 8. If you miss the first week, you can still join in the following week. Same as if you miss a week during the season...just pick up where you left off. I will be back with the schedule for Week 1.

In memory of our football-loving sister-in-arms, I dedicate this thread to pottedplant. I also think it would be a nice gesture if all of us who participate in the pool pick Brett's beloved New Orleans Saints every week. I intend to do so, but I won't make it mandatory for the rest of you...it's only a suggestion. Here are the opening week's games with the latest Las Vegas Hilton point spreads. Week 1 Thursday, September 4 Green Bay Packers at Seattle Seahawks (-5.5) Sunday, September 7 New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons (-1) Minnesota Vikings at St. Louis Rams (-6.5) Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers (-6) Jacksonville Jaguars at Philadelphia Eagles (-11) Oakland Raiders at New York Jets (-5) Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens (-2.5) Buffalo Bills at Chicago Bears (-6) Washington Redskins at Houston Texans (-2.5) Tennessee Titans at Kansas City Chiefs (-5.5) New England Patriots (-4) at Miami Dolphins Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Bucs (pick 'em) San Francisco 49ers (-5) at Dallas Cowboys Indianapolis Colts at Denver Broncos (-7) Monday, September 8 New York Giants at Detroit Lions (-4) San Diego Chargers at Arizona Cardinals (-3) No rush to get your picks in...just get 'em in before the first game. Good luck.