Crews try to retrieve boat

JOHN'S PASS - Florida Fish and Wildlife and a local charter group headed out into the Gulf of Mexico Wednesday morning in an effort to retrieve Marquis Cooper's boat.

The group left John's Pass just after 7 a.m..  They went to the area where Nick Schuyler was found, using coordinates from the beacon the Coast Guard placed on the boat.

Boat owner Captain Steve Papen of Fintastic Charters said he wanted to do what he could for the families of the missing boaters.

"I sympathize with all the families, everybody involved," Papin told FOX 13. "We all do. And we just want to do something that can help out. If we can do anything to make their life a little easier, it's good."

After more than five hours in the Gulf, crews were still unable to upright the boat or have much success towing it. Some life jackets and other debris surfaced during the attempts.  It's unclear how long the boaters will continue their efforts.

The Coast Guard called off its search for the Oakland Raiders linebacker, Detroit Lions free-agent defensive end Corey Smith, and former USF player Will Bleakley at sunset Tuesday. Crews combed more than 24,000 miles in the Gulf during 50 missions on the water and in the air since Sunday.

Schuyler was found alive, clinging to the hull of the 21-foot-boat Monday . Schuyler told investigators the boat capsized in rough weather some time on Saturday afternoon and everyone scrambled to put on life jackets.

Schuyler was taken to Tampa General Hospital, where his condition was upgraded to good Wednesday.   Searchers spotted no signs of the other men except for a cooler and a life jacket 16 miles southeast of the boat.

Family and friends are not giving up in their search efforts. Cooper's longtime friend Terry Johnson held a news conference Tuesday evening pleading for help in their private search.

"We are looking for only experienced pilots. We want to reiterate that because it's so important. We do not want another tragedy as we are searching for these gentlemen," Johnson said.

Johnson said there are plans to pick up the search where the Coast Guard left off at 6:30 a.m. He's asked interested pilots to e-mail nflsearchandrescue@gmail.com.

Coast Guard Capt. Timothy Close said if there were any other survivors, they would have been found and discouraged private search efforts.

"We don't want another search and rescue situation as a result of any Good Samaritan efforts out there," Close explained.

Cooper, 26, was selected in the third round of the 2004 NFL draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers out of Washington. He played 26 games for the Bucs in his first two pro seasons.

Cooper and Smith, 29, became friends when they were teammates at Tampa Bay. Smith signed with the Bucs as an undrafted free agent in 2002, and spent last season with Detroit before becoming a free agent. The former North Carolina State standout recorded 42 tackles (28 solo), three sacks and 10 special teams tackles in 2008, his best NFL season.

Bleakley, a 25-year-old former tight end from Crystal River, was on the USF football team in 2004 and 2005. He had one reception for 13 yards in his career, which also included some time on special teams.

Stuart Schuyler said his son Nick is an instructor at L.A. Fitness and had helped train Smith and Cooper.