Coast Guard Search Ends For Missing NFL Pros

The Coast Guard has ended its search for the two NFL players and another man lost at sea, leaving the families to cope with unknown fates of the men and to organize a private search.

Loved ones of one of the missing boaters react Tuesday to the news the Coast Guard’s search would end saying “There’s a lot of things we have to come to grips with — we’ve all agreed unanimously we won’t give up hope,” said Bruce Cooper, father of Oakland Raiders linebacker Marquis Cooper.

Marquis Cooper, NFL free agent Corey Smith and former college football player William Bleakley are all missing, after a fishing boat carrying them and a fourth man overturned Saturday in the Gulf of Mexico. The Coast Guard search was called off at sundown Tuesday. Nick Schuyler, the fourth man, was found alive on top of the overturned boat about 40 miles west of Egmont Key, Florida, on Monday afternoon.