Two NFL players are missing off the Florida Gulf Coast along with two other boaters. The foursome: Detroit Lions defensive end Corey Smith, Oakland Raiders linebacker Victor ‘Marquis’ Cooper, and former USF players Nick Schuyler and Will Bleakley didn’t return from their Saturday fishing trip.
According to Smith’s agent Ron Del Duca, Smith owns a 21 foot center console boat and he and Cooper had gone on many fishing trips together when they both played with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2004.
The four men went fishing at 6:30 a.m. Saturday morning in waters off Clearwater, Florida. They were expected to return to the Seminole Boat Ramp later in the day. At 2:00 a.m. Sunday morning the Coast Guard got a telephone call indicating that the men had not returned from their day on the water as planned.
The Coast guard dispatched a 47 foot Lifeboat, Jayhawk helicopters, several fixed wing planes and a cutter to the area. They are currently searching a 750 square mile area west of Clearwater Pass.
Cooper’s truck and boat trailer are still parked at the boat ramp. A 24 hour parking pass is displayed on the front dash, indicating the boaters intended to be back yesterday. See photo below.
According to Schuyler’s father, the four have been working out at the same L.A. Fitness gym. His son had gone fishing with Cooper and Smith for the first time last weekend and had stayed out on the water for fifteen hours, which caused him a great deal of concern.
Check out CNN video report below.