FOXBORO -- It seems as though Markus Kuhn and Sebastian Vollmer are already at the stage of their relationship where they can rip on each other without remorse.
The two German-born Patriots have been able to spend some time with one another other after Kuhn signed with New England as a free agent earlier this offseason. Since their initial re-introduction -- they met initially as preseason opponents -- Kuhn has already gone out of his way to remind Vollmer of one feat he's accomplished in the NFL that Vollmer never has.
In 2014, Kuhn, then a member of the Giants, recovered a fumble against the Titans and returned it for a touchdown. It was the first touchdown scored by any German-born player in the history of the NFL.
"I talked to Sebastian about that, too," Kuhn said Tuesday while meeting with local reporters for the first time. "And he was like, ‘Well, who got a ring?’ "
Kuhn smiled as he recalled their back-and-forth: "OK, OK, touché," he said. "Not bad."
Vollmer was asked to give his side of the story later, but conveniently appeared to have a hard time remembering the details.
"That doesn’t sound like [me]," he said. "Maybe.”
New England Patriots
When they haven't been kidding around with each other, Vollmer has helped Kuhn, a 6-foot-4, 303-pound defensive lineman, get acclimated to his new home.
"When I came here he reached out to me right away," Kuhn said. "We saw each other a few times at preseason games. We talked, just because we’re both German, which is special in this league. But other than that, when I first came here, we went to dinner, hung out, talked, he told me a little bit about this place here and I love it so far."
Vollmer is in eighth year with the Patriots after being made a second-round pick out of the University of Houston in 2009. As a Super Bowl champion and a second-team All-Pro in 2010, he's considered one of the top European-trained players in the history of the league.
Though not quite two years older than Kuhn, it's clear that the new Patriots defensive lineman admires Vollmer and what he's been able to accomplish.
"From all the Germans, he’s been in the league the longest," Kuhn said. "He’s won a Super Bowl. He’s been a very, very good player here. They’re very happy with what he’s been doing. That’s something to look up to about any player, especially somebody who was the first German to be drafted in the NFL."
A seventh-round draft pick of the Giants in 2012, Kuhn was released after last season. He'll now compete with defensive tackles Malcom Brown, Alan Branch, Terrance Knighton, rookie Vincent Valentine and others for a role on coach Bill Belichick's defense.
Vollmer probably won't be trying to help Kuhn with his technique, but if there's any other way he can make Kuhn's transition to New England a little bit more smooth, he's open to it.
"When he got here, we went to dinner," Vollmer said. "I mean, obviously it’s a little different than New York -- New York to Foxboro. But again, whoever you can help a little bit, show him restaurants, show him whatever you need, I think that goes along way. But obviously he’s a grown man I think he can find his way around Foxboro. I think he’ll figure that one out."
Both Vollmer (who grew up in Kaarst, Germany) and Kuhn (from Weinheim, Germany) are proud of their heritage and after hearing from them on Tuesday, it was evident that both were happy to share a locker room with one of only a handful of their fellow countrymen making a living in the NFL.
"I think, being a German in the NFL is kind of rare," Vollmer said. "Having two Germans on one team is really cool. [Kuhn's] a great guy, works hard. I’m pretty excited about it."