Lions, Raiders players lost at sea?

[BookieTom]

Free agent Corey Smith is believed to be the Detroit Lions player who is lost on a fishing boat in the Gulf of Mexico.

Raiders special teamer Marquis Cooper is reportedly one of the two Raiders aboard. A man named "Nick Skyler" is thought to be with them. Searchers are fighting through 6-10 foot waves and 45MPH winds to find the players.

[Patriots Game]

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP)—Two NFL players are among a group of boaters reported missing off Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Sports agent Ron Del Duca said his client, Detroit Lions defensive end Corey Smith, and Oakland Raiders linebacker Marquis Cooper were two of the four boaters who were reported missing Sunday morning by the Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard issued a statement saying the boaters were on a 21-foot vessel that left Clearwater Pass on Saturday morning for a fishing trip and did not return as expected. Crews used a helicopter and a 47-foot motor-life boat to search a 750-square mile area west of Clearwater Pass on Sunday.

[NFLMAN]

reminds me of something...

[BigdaddyQH]

Let's hear your conspiracy theory for this one, genius.

[Steel]

This is horrible news. Just read the article and it does not look good. Horrible news hope they find these guys. Prayers for the family sure wont hurt. God speed.

[Bisket]

conspiracy by the NFL to improve the two worst teams

[walk066]

Can't be good if they are in a small boat in bad waters.

[Patriots Game]

34 minutes ago

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TAMPA, FLORIDA (TICKER) —The Coast Guard has rescued one survivor from an overturned fishing boat discovered by crews searching Florida’s Gulf Coast for four missing persons, including two NFL players.

Nick Schuyler, a former football player at the University of South Florida, was found clinging to the side of the overturned boat, which was found Monday afternoon approximately 30 miles off the coast of St. Petersburg, Florida.

The whereabouts of former Detroit Lions defensive end Corey Smith - currently a free agent - and Oakland Raiders linebacker Marquis Cooper still are unknown.

Schuyler, 27, was rushed via helicopter to Tampa General Hospital. Multiple reports have stated that Schuyler is alert and talking to his rescuers.

The Coast Guard consequently has adjusted its search based on the location of the overturned boat. Schuyler reportedly has told officials that Smith, Cooper and Will Bleakley - the boat’s other passenger - all were wearing life vests.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Robert Simpson told CNN News that Schuyler claimed the boat was overturned by a wave and that all four passengers were clinging to the hull.

After receiving the report of the missing boat early Sunday morning, the Coast Guard began its search, which has covered approximately 16,000 square miles in the Gulf of Mexico.

Coast Guard captain Timothy Close said that the search has deployed three Coast Guard airplanes, two Coast Guard helicopters, a United States Air Force plane and numerous boats, including a 179-foot cutter that recently joined the effort.

According to a statement released Sunday by the Coast Guard, the boat left Clearwater Pass at approximately 6:30 a.m. on Saturday morning and did not return at its scheduled time later in the day.

The boat was reported missing at about 1:30 a.m. Officials stated that gulf waters were “extremely choppy” and believed that the boat was “in distress,” although Close said Sunday that no SOS call was received.

Close also acknowledged that the search was “hampered” by conditions, including wind gusts that reached up to 45 miles per hour Sunday and waves measuring between six and 10 feet.

Smith and Cooper were teammates with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the 2004 season. Former Buccaneers linebacker Ryan Nece told the Tampa Tribune that he knows both Smith and Cooper, claiming that both players are “good guys.”

Smith, 29, appeared in 12 games with the Lions this past season, his seventh in the NFL. The Richmond, Virginia native has played 62 career games with Detroit, San Francisco and Tampa Bay, recording 8 1/2 sacks.

Cooper, 26, played in eight games with the Raiders last year. A native of Mesa, Arizona, he has played in 42 career games over parts of five seasons with seven different teams.

[Steel]

I just heard that they may have found Cooper alive in the water. Not sure if its true yet. This is horrible.

[Patriots Game]

My 1st question is why, especially since they can afford it, on only a 21 ft boat, deep sea fishing?

[Steel]

Originally Posted by Patriots Game

My 1st question is why, especially since they can afford it, on only a 21 ft boat, deep sea fishing?

Its a guy thing, been fishing all my life and taking your own boat is part of the thrill. They have done this before I believe the weather caught then off guard. The scary part is that those waters are full of White Sharks. You hook a big fish that boat is going for a ride. Hope they find the others.

[Patriots Game]

last year I flew down to Key West for a 4 day/overnite trip. I cannot even imagine being on a boat smaller than 45ft for deep sea

[Steel]

Originally Posted by Patriots Game

last year I flew down to Key West for a 4 day/overnite trip. I cannot even imagine being on a boat smaller than 45ft for deep sea

Its not smart but people do it all the time. If you fish long you will have to face the elements at some point. Its part of the fun as sick as that may sound.

[Patriots Game]

wow...crazy stuff

[BigdaddyQH]

They said that Schuyler was wearing a life jacket when he was found. They do not know if the others were. If they were, they have a chance. Schuyler was in remarkably good shape when he was found. What no one can figure out is what happened to the other three? Schuyler was still either on the overturned boat or grabing it.