The people who know comfortable sofas and recliners apparently also know the NFL. All those years of couch potato training are now paying off.

Week 1 of the Coeur d’Alene Press All-Star Pigskin Prognosticators contest shows Mark Koerner of Koerner Furniture all alone in first place with an impressive 13-3 record. In second place is his competitor, Jeff Runge of Runge Furniture, who tied with Post Falls High football coach Blaine Bennett at 12-4.

If this keeps up, The League may be forced to consider requiring all Pigskin Prognosticators to purchase new NFL-approved furniture from Mark and Jeff so as not embarrass themselves, or The League.

Speaking of embarrassing, The Press received the only penalty this first week. The newspaper was assessed 5 yards and 10 acts of journalistic contrition for delay of game. Last week in this space, the Pigskin Prognosticators column was supposed to be continued on Page B4 — but was apparently consigned to oblivion instead. The column was re-published in full two days later.

As for the prognosticators themselves, nobody finished a most difficult Week 1 with a losing record. Duffy Smock of Windermere Coeur d’Alene Realty and John Gervais of Findlay Automotive broke even at 8-8, and everyone else posted winning records.

Everybody guessed wrong on the Tampa Bay-Atlanta game, but Koerner and Runge distinguished themselves with two unpopular — and correct — picks. Koerner was alone in saying the Lions would win at Indy, and Runge stood firm with his upset of the Patriots beating the Cardinals.

That’s how you get to the top, ladies and gentlemen. Now, let’s see if they can stay there.

For this week’s picks and the local nonprofits these benevolent players represent, see Page B5.