Lost At Sea

The Godfather · 03-02-2009, 12:48 PM

NFL players Corey Smith & Marquis Cooper are among four boaters that remain missing since Saturday night off Florida’s Gulf Coast:

Oakland Raiders linebacker Marquis Cooper and NFL free agent Corey Smith, who played for the Detroit Lions for the past three seasons, have not returned from a Saturday fishing trip in water off Clearwater, Florida, family members and colleagues said Sunday.

“It feels like my greatest fear coming true — it doesn’t feel real,” Cooper’s wife, Rebekah, told CNN affiliate WTSP in Tampa on Sunday afternoon. “I’m just waiting for a phone call.”

The Coast Guard began searching around 2 a.m. Sunday after it learned that four men — Cooper, Smith, and former University of South Florida football players William Bleakley and Nick Schuyler — had not returned from their fishing trip Saturday evening as expected.

Rough weather has hampered the effort, but “it’s still a very active search,” Coast Guard Capt. Tim Close told reporters Sunday afternoon. Poor visibility from heavy waves forced the search-and-rescue effort to be conducted primarily by air, though authorities deployed patrol boats as well, Close said.

Searchers have focused on 750 square miles of open water in the Gulf of Mexico, about 50 miles west of Clearwater Pass. From there, the men had left the Seminole Boat Ramp in a 21-foot single-engine boat about 6:30 a.m. Saturday, the Coast Guard said.

Rebekah Cooper said she became worried Saturday night when she didn’t hear from her husband. She called her one of her husband’s fishing buddies, Brian Miller, who contacted the Coast Guard with the coordinates of where the men planned to fish.

“Usually I’m on the boat. It’s a little difficult wondering if something would have been different if I had been there,” Miller said. “Or who knows? They may be just sitting out there with a broken motor — and that’s what we’re hoping for.”He said it was clear something was wrong when Cooper didn’t call Saturday night.

“He should’ve been within range to use his cell phone, and he knows enough to shut it off when he goes out so the batteries are still there,” he said. Close said weather conditions were relatively good Saturday, “but the weather picked up overnight.” “It’s a small vessel for the conditions that are out there right now,” Close said Sunday afternoon.

Rebekah Cooper said her husband was aware of Sunday’s weather forecast and for that reason picked Saturday for the trip. “Fishing is his first love, it always has been,” she said, adding, “I have a lot of faith in him out there.”

2 NFL players among boaters missing in Florida - CNN.com

**Justin Linker** · 03-02-2009, 12:51 PM

Fucked up mein

**~Miz Leetish~** · 03-02-2009, 08:53 PM

ya know its only on the news 24/7 cuz football players were involved. if it was any other normal person who went fishin they would talk about it for the first hour then get bored....

**Justin Linker** · 03-02-2009, 09:41 PM

Hella true.

03-02-2009, 12:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
The Godfather Status: Something Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 231 Threads: 223 Thanks: 0 Thanked 29 Times in 23 Posts Rep Power: 6	Lost At Sea NFL players Corey Smith & Marquis Cooper are among four boaters that remain missing since Saturday night off Florida’s Gulf Coast: Oakland Raiders linebacker Marquis Cooper and NFL free agent Corey Smith, who played for the Detroit Lions for the past three seasons, have not returned from a Saturday fishing trip in water off Clearwater, Florida, family members and colleagues said Sunday. “It feels like my greatest fear coming true — it doesn’t feel real,” Cooper’s wife, Rebekah, told CNN affiliate WTSP in Tampa on Sunday afternoon. “I’m just waiting for a phone call.” The Coast Guard began searching around 2 a.m. Sunday after it learned that four men — Cooper, Smith, and former University of South Florida football players William Bleakley and Nick Schuyler — had not returned from their fishing trip Saturday evening as expected. Rough weather has hampered the effort, but “it’s still a very active search,” Coast Guard Capt. Tim Close told reporters Sunday afternoon. Poor visibility from heavy waves forced the search-and-rescue effort to be conducted primarily by air, though authorities deployed patrol boats as well, Close said. Searchers have focused on 750 square miles of open water in the Gulf of Mexico, about 50 miles west of Clearwater Pass. From there, the men had left the Seminole Boat Ramp in a 21-foot single-engine boat about 6:30 a.m. Saturday, the Coast Guard said. Rebekah Cooper said she became worried Saturday night when she didn’t hear from her husband. She called her one of her husband’s fishing buddies, Brian Miller, who contacted the Coast Guard with the coordinates of where the men planned to fish. “Usually I’m on the boat. It’s a little difficult wondering if something would have been different if I had been there,” Miller said. “Or who knows? They may be just sitting out there with a broken motor — and that’s what we’re hoping for.”He said it was clear something was wrong when Cooper didn’t call Saturday night. “He should’ve been within range to use his cell phone, and he knows enough to shut it off when he goes out so the batteries are still there,” he said. Close said weather conditions were relatively good Saturday, “but the weather picked up overnight.” “It’s a small vessel for the conditions that are out there right now,” Close said Sunday afternoon. Rebekah Cooper said her husband was aware of Sunday’s weather forecast and for that reason picked Saturday for the trip. “Fishing is his first love, it always has been,” she said, adding, “I have a lot of faith in him out there.” 2 NFL players among boaters missing in Florida - CNN.com __________________

03-02-2009, 12:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
Justin Linker Status: Dr. Jeckyl & Mr. Linker Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Midland, North Carolina USA Posts: 780 Threads: 104 Thanks: 241 Thanked 2,156 Times in 341 Posts Rep Power: 439	Re: Lost At Sea Fucked up mein __________________ www.myspace.com/TheRealMrYUG www.myspace.com/RapsOnContact www.myspace.com/WelfareIntertainment www.myspace.com/TheFakeJustinLinker R.I.P. 1-I-Bandit R.I.P. RicanAloha707

03-02-2009, 08:53 PM	#3 (permalink)
~Miz Leetish~ Status: RIP my cousin, my angel Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: 305 Miami, FL Posts: 41 Threads: 6 Thanks: 8 Thanked 22 Times in 14 Posts Rep Power: 0	Re: Lost At Sea ya know its only on the news 24/7 cuz football players were involved. if it was any other normal person who went fishin they would talk about it for the first hour then get bored.... __________________ My Signatures done by got thizz? thank you thizz

03-02-2009, 09:41 PM	#4 (permalink)
Justin Linker Status: Dr. Jeckyl & Mr. Linker Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Midland, North Carolina USA Posts: 780 Threads: 104 Thanks: 241 Thanked 2,156 Times in 341 Posts Rep Power: 439	Re: Lost At Sea Hella true. __________________ www.myspace.com/TheRealMrYUG www.myspace.com/RapsOnContact www.myspace.com/WelfareIntertainment www.myspace.com/TheFakeJustinLinker R.I.P. 1-I-Bandit R.I.P. RicanAloha707

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