NFL Players Missing

The Coast Guard is continuing its search for 4 missing boaters, including two NFL players: Oakland Raiders linebacker Marquis Cooper and NFL free agent Corey Smith, who played for the Detroit Lions for the past three seasons.

The boaters did not return from a fishing trip off Clearwater, Florida, which began on Saturday, March 1st.

The Coast Guard began searching around 2 a.m. Sunday after learning nothing had been heard from the four men — Cooper, Smith, and former University of South Florida football players William Bleakley and Nick Schuyler — and they did not come back as expected on Saturday evening.

Rough weather, heavy waves and poor visibility all have been hampering the search, which had to be conducted primarily by air.

The Detroit Lions released a statement acknowledging that Smith was among the missing men, adding, “Our thoughts and prayers are with all the passengers, their families and all those involved in the search efforts.”

Smith and Cooper were teammates with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for part of the 2004 season, when Cooper was a rookie, according to the NFL’s Web site. Smith, who entered the league with Tampa Bay in 2002, went on to play for the Washington Redskins before moving to the Lions for the 2006 season. Cooper has played for six teams in his five-season career. Cooper played college football at the University of Washington. Smith played at North Carolina State.

UPDATE: : One of the boaters, Nick Schuyler, has been found alive!!! He was weak and clinging to the side of the boat 38 miles west of Tampa Bay.

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Tags: accident, corey, nick