The US Coast Guard are searching for a missing boat off the cost of Florida containing NFL duo Corey Smith and Marquis Cooper.
NFL duo reported missing after fishing trip hits bad weather
The US Coast Guard are searching for a missing boat off the coast of Florida containing four men - two of them being NFL stars Corey Smith and Marquis Cooper.
Detroit Lions defensive end Smith and former Oakland Raiders linebacker Cooper went on a fishing trip in the latter's boat on Saturday morning, and have not yet returned.
The Coast Guard, who named the other two men missing as Nick Skyler and William Bleakley, have beemn searching the Gulf of Mexico 50 miles off Clearwater Pass, where the men started their trip.
Cooper's 21-foot boat sailed in decent conditions, but during the trip a small boat warning was issued as winds gusting up to 30mph approached with waves reaching up to 14 feet.
Both Cooper, who has been described as an experienced sailor, and Smith live in the Tampa area after starting their careers with the Buccaneers.
Weather warning
"They both played ball with the Tampa Bay Bucs, both live in the Tampa area and work out at the same gym," said Smith's agent Ron Del Duca.
"The weather was fine when they left, but a cold front came through. Wind and waves."
Former Buccaneers linebacker Ryan Nece knows both Smith and Cooper, and said that both men were responsible individuals.
"As soon as I heard the news, I felt it like they were people in my own family," Nece told the
Tampa Tribune.
"Those are two guys I really respect and two guys who are just blue collar good guys. They work hard. They are family guys.
Good guys
"They are simple guys who just like to go out on a boat and just hang out and relax. They are not flashy.
"They are the opposite of what a football player's image is portrayed to society. I'm just praying for them and everybody is praying that it turns out a different way."
Smith, 29, played 12 games for the Lions last season and has also turned out for the Bucs and San Francisco 49ers.
Cooper, who is 26, has played in the NFL for five seasons with spells at Tampa Bay, Minnesota, Seattle, Jacksonville, Pittsburgh and Oakland.
The Coast Guard are continuing their search, but captain Timothy Close warned: "A 21-foot boat is a relatively small vessel to be 50 miles off shore in bad weather conditions, certainly the current weather conditions."
