| Number: | 55 |
| Position: | Offensive guard |
| Birth Date: | 26 November 1934 |
| Birth Place: | Trout, West Virginia |
| Death Place: | Glendale, Arizona |
| Height Ft: | 6 |
| Height In: | 1 |
| Weight Lb: | 230 |
| High School: | Rupert (WV) |
| College: | West Virginia |
| Draftyear: | 1958 |
| Draftround: | 3 |
| Draftpick: | 35 |
| Pastteams: | |
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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.
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]
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]
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]