Joe Nicely
No. 55 | |
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Position: | Offensive guard |
Personal information | |
Born: | Trout, West Virginia | November 26, 1934
Died: | September 24, 2010 Glendale, Arizona | (aged 75)
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 | |
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* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |
Career highlights and awards | |
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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[]
- ^ "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.
- ^ "1958 NFL Draft". Retrieved February 27, 2020.
- ^ "Colts Place Joe Nicely On Waivers". Retrieved February 27, 2020.
- ^ "Ex-Redskins castoff, may join the Walker A Lift?". Retrieved February 27, 2020.
- ^ "Big Four Teams Declare Selections of Imports". Retrieved February 27, 2020.
- ^ "Redskins Sign WVU's Nicely". Retrieved February 27, 2020.
- ^ "Redskins Sign WVU's Nicely". Retrieved February 27, 2020.
- ^ "Dallas Loses Guard". Retrieved February 27, 2020.
- ^ "Burel J. Nicely Obituary". Retrieved February 27, 2020.
External links[]
- 1934 births
- 2010 deaths
- People from Greenbrier County, West Virginia
- Players of American football from West Virginia
- American football offensive guards
- West Virginia Mountaineers football players
- Montreal Alouettes players
- Washington Redskins players