Roger Goodell opened the envelope, pulled out the card, glanced at the name on it, and a fleeting light inadvertently shone in his usually unimpressed eyes; satisfaction briefly peeked before quietly hiding away—
The door to the Hua Xia Market had finally been pushed open, marking a historic moment.
Yet outwardly, he remained composed, maintaining stability as he continued to fulfill his role.
"...Li Wei, running back, University of Alabama."
Witness, history.
This was the first time since 2012 that a running back from the University of Alabama, Trent Richardson, had been selected in the top three of the first round, a whole five years, truly a long absence.
This was the first Hua Xia player to be selected in the first round in NFL history, and the first among all Asian players to create such history.
This was the first time a college freshman had been selected in the first round of the NFL draft—although Li Wei was a junior, he indeed had only one year of playing experience.