Newsbyte: SAP Unveils Powerful New Player Comparison Tool Exclusively on NFL.com; Cloud-Based Analytics Solution Offers Fans Real-Time Information on Player Stats Throughout the Season for Free

WALLDORF, Germany, Aug. 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- SAP AG (NYSE: SAP) and the National Football League (NFL) launched an enhanced fantasy football analytics platform that offers users real-time insights to help users make more informed, winning decisions. Running on cloud-based SAP® solutions, the player comparison tool is free, available exclusively on www.NFL.com/Fantasy and enables sports fans to experience their passion in new and exciting ways. The solutions are expected to help the sports and entertainment industry, SAP's 25^th and newest vertical industry market, run better for fans, athletes, performers and media as well as venues, teams, leagues and entertainment companies.

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The player comparison tool forecasts NFL player statistics for games during the regular season, guiding users to make important game-day decisions by factoring in statistical performance and intangibles such as weather, injuries, game location, player rest and more. With the new tool, fans can make decisions on their fantasy football teams in four easy steps:

1.     Compare: select the players to compare
2.     Analyze: examine projection analysis and recommendation
3.     Decision: accept or reject the recommendation
4.     Customize: adjust the projection weighting scheme

"More than ever, users rely on analytics to gain a competitive edge and the player comparison tool is designed to deliver that advantage through insights that can guide decision-making," said Jonathan Becher, chief marketing and communications officer, SAP AG. "SAP is in a great position to play a significant, long-term role in the growing fantasy football culture."

"Integrating the software solutions and data storage expertise of SAP's team with the knowledge and experience of the NFL Digital Media team has produced an extremely valuable fantasy football tool," said Cory Mummery, senior director of Product for NFL Digital Media. "The player comparison tool, combined with our existing fantasy editorial content, social tools and player projections, provides users with an abundant suite of products to help them manage their fantasy teams."

Following the conclusion of games each week throughout the regular season, NFL.com will award the Fantasy Player of the Week, running on SAP, to the highest performing player. This year, the Fantasy Player of the Week page will include a Facebook conversation plug-in for fans to debate and discuss the top fantasy players of the week.

The 2013 fantasy football season culminates with the NFL.com Fantasy Player of the Year Award presented by SAP. It will be announced the night before Super Bowl XLVIII at the "3^rd Annual NFL Honors," a two-hour primetime awards special to air nationally on Saturday, February 1, 2014, from 9:00 – 11:00 p.m. EST on FOX.

In October 2012, the NFL and SAP announced a multi-year marketing sponsorship that made SAP the Official Cloud Software Solutions, Business Software and Business Analytics Software Sponsor of the League. The NFL utilizes cloud solutions from SAP to support the continued innovation and enhancement of NFL.com's fantasy football platform. Through the implementation of on-demand SAP solutions, SAP and the NFL seek to deepen the NFL.com fantasy football experience, providing fans with enhanced analytics and functionality within the game.

For more information, visit the SAP Newsroom. Follow SAP on Twitter at @sapnews.

Media Contact:
Evan Welsh, +1 (610) 203-9742, [email protected], EDT

SOURCE SAP AG