Joe Nicely
No. 55
Position:Offensive guard
Personal information
Born:(1934-11-26)November 26, 1934
Trout, West Virginia
Died:September 24, 2010(2010-09-24) (aged 75)
Glendale, Arizona
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:230 lb (104 kg)
Career information
High school:Rupert (WV)
College:West Virginia
NFL Draft:1958 / Round: 3 / Pick: 35
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards

Joseph Burel Nicely (November 26, 1934 – September 24, 2010) was an American football offensive guard in the Canadian Football League for the Montreal Alouettes. He also was a member of the Washington Redskins in the National Football League. He played college football at West Virginia University.

Early years

Nicely attended Rupert High School.[1] To play football, he had to walk 6 to 8 miles home after each practice.[2]

He accepted a football scholarship from West Virginia University, where he became a starter at offensive guard offense and a middle guard on defense.[2] As a senior, he missed three games with a broken bone in his hand. He participated in the Blue–Gray Football Classic, Senior Bowl and Chicago College All-Star Game.[3]

Professional career

Nicely was selected by the Baltimore Colts in the third round (35th overall) of the 1958 NFL Draft.[4] He was waived before the start of the season on September 9.[5]

On September 12, 1958, he signed with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League.[6] He appeared in 5 games as a backup at offensive guard and offensive tackle. He was released on October 14.[7]

On January 28, 1959, he signed with the Washington Redskins, where he was tried at center.[8] On September 15, he was placed on the team's reserve list with an injury and was later signed to the taxi squad.[9]

In 1960, Nicely was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the expansion draft. He suffered from a blood infection that turned out to be Hepatitis C and did not make the team.[10]

Personal life

Nicely had three fingers cut off from his right hand in an accident he had during his youth.[2] He died on September 24, 2008.[11]

References

  1. ↑ "Joe Nicely". Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 "WVU s Nicely was one of greats on offensive line". Fox Sports. October 8, 2010. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  3. ↑ Johnson, Chuck (August 16, 1958). "Grid All-Stars slay inept Detroit Lions". Milwaukee Journal. p. 12. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  4. ↑ "1958 NFL Draft". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Colts Place Joe Nicely On Waivers". 10 September 1958. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Ex-Redskins castoff, may join the Walker A Lift?". 13 September 1958. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Big Four Teams Declare Selections of Imports". Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Redskins Sign WVU's Nicely". 29 January 1959. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Redskins Sign WVU's Nicely". 16 September 1959. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Dallas Loses Guard". 24 August 1960. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Burel J. Nicely Obituary". Legacy.com. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
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