Ladies and gentlemen, let the games begin.

The 2019-2020 Press Pigskin Prognosticators have been assembled, an all-star squad of good sports if ever there was one.

Ten community and business leaders, plus an 11th man (and designated ringer), have volunteered to put their NFL prediction prowess and their pride on full public display.

Each was asked to pick a local nonprofit they’ll represent throughout the regular season and playoffs. Every week starting with the Packers-Bears (go Bears!) on Sept. 5, they’ll guess which NFL teams will win each game. Their scores will be tabulated weekly, some rising to the top and some sinking to that place where humiliation resides. But it’s all for a good cause — right?

When the dust finally settles and Super Bowl LIV is history, the prognosticator with the best record will have won four half-page ads in The Press for her or his nonprofit. The ads can be used anytime in 2020 to thank donors, promote special events, honor outstanding employees — whatever the nonprofit chooses to share with Press readers as long as it’s not political. Second place is two half-page ads, and third place is one half-page ad. The last-place finisher will “win” the consolation prize of earning his or her nonprofit a quarter-page ad in The Press.

Here are this season’s players, their affiliations, and the nonprofits they’ll represent:

- Lee White, CDA Police Chief — Safe Passage

- Pat Knight, Post Falls Police Chief — Newby-ginnings

- Jim Hightower, owner Domino’s Pizza — Tesh, Inc.

- Jared Staples, owner Papa Murphy’s — Open Arms Real Choices Clinic

- Jim Winger, Lake City High School Athletic Director — Jeff Hinz Fund

- Mike Randles, Coeur d’Alene High School Athletic Director — Children’s Village

- Mike Kennedy, Intermax (internet solutions) — St. Vincent de Paul

- DeAnne Boegli, TDS (internet solutions) — North Idaho STEM Charter

- Anne Hagman, ICCU — Heritage Health

- Suzanna Spencer, STCU — Post Falls Food Bank

- Steve Cameron, Press sports columnist (and designated ringer) — Community Library Network Foundation

A special honor will be bestowed upon the player who talks the best smack during the season. Some of these charming exchanges will be shared in weekly updates on the competition, published Thursdays starting Sept. 5 in the Press Sports section.

It will come as no surprise to many of you that the two police chiefs are already off and running their mouths, trading some of the best insults heard on either side of the line of scrimmage. Stay tuned for savory samples.