Ed Wang, an offensive tackle from Virginia Tech chosen by the Buffalo Bills in the fifth round of the draft, is the first player in NFL history with two Chinese parents. He says he think that gives him a unique opportunity to help the league gain traction in China.
“It’s really important to me,” Wang told the Buffalo News. “It means a lot to me that I was able to be the first one to do it, so I took a lot of pride in that.”
Both of Wang’s parents were raised in Beijing, and both were track stars who represented China in the Olympics before moving to Virginia, where Wang was born.
The NFL has attempted to establish a foothold in China, but in 2008 it scrapped plans to have a preseason game there, and its efforts in China have been described as one of the league’s few failures. Wang would like to help on that front, but he knows that his first priority is making the Bills’ roster.
“I feel like I can improve on everything,” Wang said. “I feel like I have a lot of room to grow in my game and that’s what I’m really excited about, just getting there and having them develop me more and just getting ready to go.”
Pats LB Pat Chung would be a great partner in this. They could call it the Wang-Chung Initiative.
There you go Mr. Wilson. Move the Bills to China. I realize that the travel restrictions would mean the Bills will have to play less games than the rest of the league. Maybe an 8 game schedule, with some kind of weighted average placed on three division games.
That way they’d still have to potential to win only 6-8 games a year, MAX.
this guy will have footprints all over him – I smell a 5th round bust.
I know that the NFL has long been described as the “No Fun League” but… all I’m saying is …
Look, I want EVERYBODY to have fun tonight…
But if you’re driving…please, please don’t …
Wang Chung Tonight!
Maybe the NFL can move the Bills to China?
Wang.
The Bills could use a few hundred million more fans.
I know
If Ed Wang had been picked by the Jets Ed Wang would work for Woody Johnson
Um. Can you imagine these guys getting in trouble in China?
He hasn’t made the opening day roster, so is he really the “first player in NFL history with two Chinese parents.” yet???
the NFL needs to understand that while they are the dominant sports product here, it just isnt popular overseas. Its never going to be either. Whats good for us isnt whats good for everyone else. Kind of like the way soccer is pretty much meaningless in this country. They tried to market it hard for a few years here and it just never caught on. I cant really explain why the vast majority of us want nothing to do with soccer, and i cant explain why people in Asia dont care about football. It just seems to be the way it is and thats worked out ok overall for both sports. Just leave it alone the NFL makes more than enough money
What does a pornstar have to do with the NFL in china?
I am SURE that the NFL players would be thrilled to play a game 1 regular season there. Aw maybe they need a raise.
Buffalo went 450 selections in the draft (7th rd 2008 – 5th rd 2010) without taking a Tackle, and then finally the select one….
IN THE 5th ROUND!!!…
FROM CHINA…
Clearly, the dream team (Buddy/Ralph/Chan) does not get it.
heh heh, he said “Wang”! heh heh
If he starts, the line will include Wang, Wood, and Levitre. Just sayin…
Whoopty-doo…Hey Florio, Chris Harris was traded back to Chicago. There’s some REAL news for you to report on, via his Twitter page.
Too bad his last name was not dong. Then we could go “Dong……where is my automobile?”
The Bills now have a Wang and a Wood on their O-Line. Nuff said.
Ah-so…
Glad the Bills picked him up. Making the roster as an offensive lineman should be no problem.
“He says he ‘think’ that gives him a unique opportunity to help the league gain traction in China.”
Please tell me that was intentional.
Can you imagine the money Ralph is gonna make off of jersey sales????? Oh he’ll be on the roster alright!
GO BILLS!!!!
I chink he can but I may be Wong.
He is kind of the Yao Ming of football. Or maybe Yao will be remembered as the Ed Chung of basketball. Who knows.
Too bad he sucks at football. Another wasted OT pick for the Bills.
This is a great idea now all the Bills games will be blacked out because China will censure all of it.
wang + levitre = wood
Great, before you know if people in China will be allowed to vote for the Pro Bowl…….LAME! Hope Goodell doesnt overdo it….
WOW ignorance. It’s bliss but some of you must be on ecstasy.
This is a publishers dream! C’mon Florio, change the title to something like “Wang looks to make impression in China” or maybe “Bills hope for big things from Wang”.
Bum Rapistberger says “Wang? Ain’t he that thing that bosses me around alot and makes me assault all the womens?!?”
“I feel like I can improve on everything”
Ahhh, spoken like a true Bill of the post-Kelly era.
All this guy should be focusing on are the preparations & contributions in which he can make that will aid in Bills winning, whether it is studying film, lifting weights or polishing D.Bell’s helmet. Bills fans are sick of crap football. I for one do not give a f*ck about Canada or China liking football. Flaunting subpar Bills football won’t make them like it, anyway. What I care about is the team I have supported for (too many painful) years finally winning more games then they lose. Please Mr. Wang, focus on the one objective which is important (victory) and all else will follow without you running to the newspapers.
“Can you imagine the money Ralph is gonna make off of jersey sales?????”
If that’s the case, Sam Gash should a be a millionaire fifty times over.
Chris Fiorentino says:
April 27, 2010 1:15 PM
He hasn’t made the opening day roster, so is he really the “first player in NFL history with two Chinese parents.” yet???
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I think he just needs to sign an offer and actually become a member of the team, not necessarily make the opening day roster.
Do not be surprised if you see Ed Wang in the Pro Bowl in a few years. He was an outstanding basketball player who was more interested in football. He became an all-state tight end in high school and in his senior year he won the Gatorade state football player of the year award in Virginia. He played two years as a tight end at Virginia Tech, before switching to right tackle and subsequently to left tackle. He is 6’4″ and 314.
A few years back the Bills picked up a UDFA tight end and decided to make him into a tackle. He is now 6’4″ and 340, but when he declared for the NFL draft as a junior he was 311. The Bills first taught this guy to play RT and a year after the Bills picked him up he took over at RT. The next year he shifted to LT and in each of the next three years he has been selected to the Pro Bowl. Unfortunately, he wanted more money than the Bills were willing to pay him, so Jason Peters was traded to the Eagles.
Ed Wang is very similar to Jason Peters, except that he is much more skilled than Peters was at the start of his time with Buffalo.
Wood, Levitre and Wang—nice! Now add Arthur Johnson and Quentin Cialis and you are really ‘strokin’”
All this means is that we are moving closer to having games played in China, the London game is a joke, weary travel and poor play.
Goodell has already discussed a future possibility of a Super Bowl overseas.
When the NFL goes to Mexico, CHina and London, who loses? the season ticket holder, as usual the fan loses out.
This is easy to make fun of because of his name, but he will probably develop into a solid lineman in 2-3 years. the Bills certainly missed an opportunity to draft an opening day starter, but Wang will be solid.
Wang + Levitre = Wood . They’ll give you a Hardy Huggins, then hopefully they’ll use a Ramsey before the Byrd Spiller on Youboty
Do not be surprised if you see Ed Wang in the Pro Bowl in a few years. He was an outstanding basketball player who was more interested in football. He became an all-state tight end in high school and in his senior year he won the Gatorade state football player of the year award in Virginia. He played two years as a tight end at Virginia Tech, before switching to right tackle and subsequently to left tackle. He is 6’4″ and 314.
A few years back the Bills picked up a UDFA tight end and decided to make him into a tackle. He is now 6’4″ and 340, but when he declared for the NFL draft as a junior he was 311. The Bills first taught this guy to play RT and a year after the Bills picked him up he took over at RT. The next year he shifted to LT and in each of the next three years he has been selected to the Pro Bowl. Unfortunately, he wanted more money than the Bills were willing to pay him, so Jason Peters was traded to the Eagles.
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cute story but it doesnt mean anything, the 49ers once has 2 great qb’s, doesnt mean alex smith or david carr will follow in their foot steps
So will they play on a field of broken glass with lead mouth guards? If I wanted to see a game in shit hole, government controlled area I’d go to Detroit.
He says he think that gives him a unique opportunity to help the league gain traction in China.
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Did you purposrey write “He says he think” with no S on the end of that rast word?
hey wang…it’s a parking lot
yeah just what we need….some more global lovey-dovey shoved down the American NFL fan’s throat
Hey Jean Rasczak…..
The Bills have no fans despite the fact that they sell out just about every home game, despite being mediocre for over 10yrs? Hmm…ok…..
What makes this attractive is the fact that Wang is an offensive tackle.
Can you see the TV announcer say, Allen beat Wang into the backfield. It would be enough to send the Viking fans into a complete state of arousal and cause a run of gerbils at the local pet stores.
Wow! Just think how much an NFL owner could save on salaries if the team was in China. Can you just imagine the first $8.35 5 year contract. They’d have first dibs on the Nike workers too.
I was wondering how long the Wang jokes would take. I’m surprised Florio never put up
“Bills Draft Big Wang”
as a topic headline.
# B.Rubble says: April 27, 2010 1:43 PM
“Can you imagine the money Ralph is gonna make off of jersey sales?????”
If that’s the case, Sam Gash should a be a millionaire fifty times over.
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Not because of his name, DUMBASS. Because he has 1.3 Billion, with a B, potential fans in China.
This site should change it’s name to The Tool Box.
# dlmcc0909 says: April 27, 2010 1:16 PM
the NFL needs to understand that while they are the dominant sports product here, it just isnt popular overseas. Its never going to be either. Whats good for us isnt whats good for everyone else. Kind of like the way soccer is pretty much meaningless in this country. They tried to market it hard for a few years here and it just never caught on. I cant really explain why the vast majority of us want nothing to do with soccer, and i cant explain why people in Asia dont care about football. It just seems to be the way it is and thats worked out ok overall for both sports. Just leave it alone the NFL makes more than enough money
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I guess you never heard of Yao Ming, have you? He single-handedly turned China into a hotbed for the NBA. Might want to try to step outside of your ignorantbox once in awhile.
(Ed) Wang and (Eric) Wood, give me a (James) Hardy
(Ed) Wang and (Eric) Wood, give me a (James) Hardy
As long as the NFL doesn’t institute the one child rule I’m fine with it. You can’t run an offense with one WR. Child please.
Cromartie wouldn’t go for that one child stuff.
I love to see other nationalities & races play in the NFL. Yes to more diversity!