Europeans work to get into American NFL

Americans the only ones who dream about playing in the NFL. Take Germany's Bastian Lano, a 6-foot-6, 292-pound defensive tackle with the Rhein Fire of NFL Europe.

"I want to go to an NFL camp and be seen," Lano said. "I make so many mistakes now, and still I stand out. That leads me to believe I can make it there."

Unlike players in the six-team league -- only about one-sixth are non-Americans -- Lano didn't grow up playing football. He took up the sport after watching Super Bowl XXV -- where the New York Giants beat the Buffalo Bills -- on TV in Germany.

Lano a few other non-Americans will get to showcase their skills Saturday when the Fire play the Frankfurt Galaxy in the World Bowl, NFL Europe's championship game.

"I'd like to go to a camp this year as part of a learning experience," the 26-year-old Lano said. "I don't know if I could make a team this year -- it would be for next year. The first thing is to get into a camp."

Lano, who finished tied for fourth in the league in sacks with 6 1/2 in 10 games, has asked former NFL player Brian Baldinger to help him find an agent.

"Instinctively, he needs some input, because he'll see some blocking assignments he's never seen before," said Baldinger, now working as a television analyst. "But he really wants to compete. If you put him in the right position, he can."

Frankfurt's French wide receiver, Marc Soumah, and teammate Daniel Benetka, also a German, have already attracted interest from NFL teams.

"I used to watch NFL games in France," said Soumah, 28. "I didn't think I'd ever have a chance to play there."