Joe Nicely
| No. 55 | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Offensive guard |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | November 26, 1934 Trout, West Virginia |
| Died: | September 24, 2010 (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[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
- ^ "Joe Nicely". Retrieved February 27, 2020.
- ^ a b c "WVU s Nicely was one of greats on offensive line". Fox Sports. October 8, 2010. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
- ^ Johnson, Chuck (August 16, 1958). "Grid All-Stars slay inept Detroit Lions". Milwaukee Journal. p. 12. Retrieved February 27, 2020.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "1958 NFL Draft". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
- ^ "Colts Place Joe Nicely On Waivers". 10 September 1958. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
- ^ "Ex-Redskins castoff, may join the Walker A Lift?". 13 September 1958. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
- ^ "Big Four Teams Declare Selections of Imports". Retrieved February 27, 2020.
- ^ "Redskins Sign WVU's Nicely". 29 January 1959. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
- ^ "Redskins Sign WVU's Nicely". 16 September 1959. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
- ^ "Dallas Loses Guard". 24 August 1960. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
- ^ "Burel J. Nicely Obituary". Legacy.com. Retrieved February 27, 2020.