CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Coast Guard searched off Florida’s Gulf Coast on Sunday for a fishing boat carrying NFL players Corey Smith and Marquis Cooper and two other men missing for more than a day in choppy seas.
Smith, a defensive end for the Detroit Lions, and Cooper, an Oakland Raiders linebacker, were on a 21-foot vessel that left Clearwater Pass for a fishing trip Saturday morning and did not return as expected, the Coast Guard said. Crews used a helicopter and an 87-foot ship to search a 750-square mile area west of Clearwater Pass, but poor weather made the search difficult. Officials did not receive a distress signal from the missing craft.
Cooper owns the boat and he and Smith have been on fishing trips before, said Ron Del Duca, Smith’s agent. The pair had been teammates on the Buccaneers in 2004. Two others were aboard: Will Bleakley and Nick Schuyler, both former University of South Florida players.
Coast Guard Capt. Timothy M. Close said the weather early Saturday had been fair, but worsened toward the evening as a front moved in. The National Weather Service said seas were about 2 to 4 feet Saturday morning and increased to 3 to 5 feet in the afternoon. Late Saturday night, a small craft advisory was issued, when winds were around 20 knots and seas were up to 7 feet or more.
Giants add Bernard, Canty
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The Giants gave new defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan some reinforcements along the line, signing free agents Rocky Bernard and Chris Canty.
Bernard signed what is believed to be a four-year, $16 million deal late Saturday, hours after the Giants signed former Atlanta Falcons linebacker Michael Boley.
Canty received a $42 million deal over six years, according to a person familiar with the contract who requested anonymity because no terms were officially announced.
“He’s a veteran defensive tackle with skins on the wall,” Giants general manager Jerry Reese said.
Footnotes
• Seattle and free- agent defensive tackle Colin Cole have agreed to a five- |year, $21.4 million contract that includes $6 million in guaranteed money, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press.
• Michael Clayton has signed a five-year contract worth nearly $26 million to remain with Tampa Bay.
• The Jets and fullback Tony Richardson have agreed to terms on a one-year deal, with $500,000 guaranteed.
• Backup quarterback Dan Orlovsky signed with the Texans to play behind Matt Schaub.
