Lions' Smith, Raiders' Cooper missing

[Berowsk]

The Coast Guard is searching for up to four missing boaters, including two active NFL players near St. Petersburg, Fla.

Cooper
Cooper

Smith
Smith

Among the missing is Detroit defensive end Corey Smith and Oakland linebacker Marquis Cooper. Also on board is Nick Skyler. A press release sent out by the Coast Guard also said there is a possible fourth person on board. Agents for both Smith and Cooper confirmed that their clients are among the missing.

"We are in contact with the Coast guard and Corey's family has been informed," Smith's agent Ron Del Duca said. "Corey is one of the good guys out there. We're just waiting for more information and hoping for the best."

Troy Asmus, one of Cooper's agents, said he has been in contact with the NFL and that the league is aware of the situation.

"I have been in contact with the Coast Guard and they are continuing to work hard to find everyone," Asmus said. "We are hoping and praying for the best."

Cooper and Smith played together in Tampa Bay in 2004.

In its press release, the Coast Guard Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, Fla., received a call at about 1:30 a.m. Sunday that the party did not return from their fishing trip. In the release, the Coast Guard said four boaters left at about 6:30 a.m. Saturday, from the Seminole Boat Ramp in Clearwater Pass, in a 21-foot center console boat.

The Coast Guard search remains active. Crews used a helicopter and a 47-foot motor-life boat to search a 750-square mile area west of Clearwater Pass on Sunday.

Asmus said he has been in touch with Coast Guard officials and he was told there were 14-foot waves and 45 MPH winds in the waters overnight where his party was fishing. Asmus said he was told that the party's truck and trailer remains at the dock where the boat launched.

Bill Williamson cover the AFC West for ESPN.com. Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3943945

 

[Apocalypse]

Hopefully the guys are found and they'll be alright, that's all i'll say.

 

[Mit]

This is really weird. I hope they are found, also.

 

[Berowsk]

I just don't know how they would have disappeared like that. Its extremely sad.

 

[zack54attack]

I hope they are found. My prayers go out to their families.

 

[krulmichael]

This is pretty bizarre if I do say so myself, but I hope both of them are found safe and sound.

 

[OnlyOneBeerLeft]

thats crazy man hope it turns out okay, i know from experience when friends/family are missing out on a boat its a tough thing

 

[celtsxpatsxsox]

This reminded me when a couple students from the University of Rhode Island were at a party and got drunk and decided to take a boat out. There bodies were found a couple weeks later.

I really hope that it doesnt happen to them.

 

[Yawkey Way]

this same thing happened last year with the Patriots DE marquise hill..he was found dead:/

 

[OnlyOneBeerLeft]

This reminded me when a couple students from the University of Rhode Island were at a party and got drunk and decided to take a boat out. There bodies were found a couple weeks later.

I really hope that it doesnt happen to them.

those were my friends man that shit was so fucking crazy, I live less then a mile from campus, and we searched for them for days down at Bay Campus...when we got the news it was horrible seeing their parent reactions and stuff i felt so sick to my stomach man the girl fandia was my friend Mike's cousin...

 

[Kuzzy Powers]

Apparently the Coast Guard is fighting 10 foot waves and 45mph winds looking for these guys. Definitely doesnt bode well for their safety. I hope they're found safe but the signs are not good..

 

[Bigpapa42]

Hopefully they are found safe and sound.

 

[j.hen]

I'm calling shenanigans

 

[Rayman]

...

 

[Raidersabc123]

This doesn't sound good I hope them both the best and hope there ok

 

[Chrispy]

Breaking news on SC: A Boat has been found but they can't confirm yet its the missing boat. But there is one person clinging to the boat.

 

[kyhadley]

edit: pollack beat me to it lol

 

[kyhadley]

i heard on MSNBC that it was the boat, and they knew who the one person was of the 4, but hadn't released the name, so not good for the other three...

 

[Apocalypse]

This is really sad..

 

[Apocalypse]

Yeah, I just wonder what happened. There's almost no details right now, just that Nick Skyler has been rescued...I don't know if the boat turned over or what, but all they are telling us is the boat didn't sink.

The amount of pressure that this survivor is in should be crazy, he'll have to tell every one that the others didn't survive and tell exactly how the events played out..

I really hope that these guys are found because no one should go out for a little fun with friends, go fishing, and end up missing.
No one deserves that.