Bills sign Chinese-American Wang to four-yeal deal

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Ed Wang moved a step closer to becoming the first player of direct Chinese ancestry to compete in the National Football League as the offensive tackle was signed by the Buffalo Bills on Thursday.

The Bills did not disclose terms of Wang's contract but local media reported it was a four-year deal.

Wang, born in Virginia to Chinese immigrant parents, was selected by the Bills in the fifth round of last month's NFL draft after having earned All-Atlantic Coast Conference second-team honors at Virginia Tech in 2009.

Following his selection by the Bills at last month's draft, Wang said he would be honored to be the first Chinese-American player in the 32-team league.

"I am proud of my Chinese heritage and I hope I could encourage more Chinese to get to know and participate in American football," Wang had told the NFL's Chinese website (www.nflchina.com).

(Writing by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Frank Pingue)