In an exclusive ran interview, two-time Super Bowl champion Sebastian Vollmer explains what the NFL’s decision to grant the New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers marketing rights for the German market means for fans in Germany and the four teams. And it gives a little hope for a visit to Germany by Tom Brady.

Munich – In an exclusive ran interview, two-time Super Bowl champion Sebastian Vollmer explains what the NFL’s decision to grant the New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers marketing rights for the German market means for fans in Germany and the four teams. And it gives a little hope for a visit to Germany by Tom Brady.

Sebastian Vollmer talks about, among other things…

..the decision and what it means: “It doesn’t really mean anything other than that the teams have the same rights as in their home market in the US. That means they get to set up a headquarters here, come to Germany with players, negotiate with sponsors and just do a lot more marketing. They can sort of give their fans what they think they want. Personally, I will be in Germany with the Patriots next year, for example, so of course we will bring players with us. That’s not only positive for the teams involved, but of course also for the league itself. “

..the selection of the teams: “A number of teams applied. Each team had to put together a portfolio of what they were going to do with the German market and then the NFL just picks. The Patriots are still the number one team in Germany, Kansas City has gotten a huge boost and wants to capture the market and the Panthers have a huge German fan base. From the NFL’s point of view, these teams have the greatest potential to expand their market in Germany. Now the teams are planning what they’re going to do for the next five years.”

..the possibility of Tom Brady coming to Germany: “I honestly have no idea about that, ultimately he has to decide that for himself. On the one hand, from the player’s point of view, it’s about making the franchise better known, but an athlete like Brady could also, for example, bring his “TB12″ brand further forward and sell products there. So I can already see it happening a lot, but I might have to ask him personally.”

..his and Jakob Johnson’s role in the Patriots’ decision: “Definitely it has something to do with it! When you have German players, of course it helps to win that market. You saw it with Dirk Nowitzki: He’s one of the best players there ever was and there it’s easy to identify with him and then also his team. Of course, the NFL wants to build something like that. Jakob, also Amon-Ra (St. Brown, ed.), that helps, of course. If the game comes to Germany, if the NFL builds up academies and continues to be represented and brings the sport closer to young people at an earlier age, then of course you also have a greater chance of attracting talent for the American market. When a team’s popularity goes up, the league’s goes up and that in turn helps all the teams. ran has grown the fan base and “taught” them everything and you just have to offer them more now.”

..the actions that will be planned: “It’s all still up in the air. You can’t make concrete plans if you don’t have a concrete year yet. You also have to coordinate it with the players whether they want to and can come at all. After the season it will then be about these things, it will all still show and develop.”

…The possibility of two of the four teams now selected also playing in Germany next year: “Potentially yes, but that’s not decided yet. All teams have to play in Germany at some point in the next eight years. But it also depends on the game plan, who has home rights, who wants to give up a home game first, all that is not so easy. There’s a lot to sort out with the teams. But no matter which team comes, there will be two top-class teams, I’m very sure of that. At the Super Bowl, yes, we’ll hear the decision.”

..the state of play in deciding the teams for the Germany game: “The decision-making process is coming to an end, but it all still has to be signed off by the owners. It’s the final stage of ‘can we get the two teams we want in the stadium we want in the timeframe we want?’ It’s far from easy, but I’d say we’re 98 per cent done. Germany has the advantage of having learned from London what went wrong and what went right. So you can start faster and you don’t necessarily have to invest that learning process.”

..the possibility of more than one Germany game: “It’s hard to say, I don’t know. I think it’s the desire. You saw it in London that it can be done. So why not more than one game? If it works well, then you can expand. “