DETROIT -- Coast Guard crews off Florida's Gulf Coast are searching for four missing boaters, including Detroit Lions defensive end Corey Smith.
The Coast Guard issued a statement saying Smith and Victor "Marquis" Cooper were among the boaters reported missing Sunday morning.
Sports agent Ron Del Duca confirmed to the Associated Press that his client, Detroit Lions defensive end Corey Smith, and Oakland Raiders linebacker Marquis Cooper were two of the four boaters.
Smith owned the 21-foot boat and he and Cooper had been on fishing trips before, said Ron Del Duca, Smith's agent. The pair had been teammates on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2004.
They boat left from the Seminole Boat Ramp in Clearwater Pass at about 6:30 a.m. Saturday morning for a fishing trip and did not return as expected, the Coast Guard said.
The Coast Guard said it was alerted at about 1:30 a.m. Sunday and is searching the area about 50 miles west of Clearwater Pass.
Nick Skyler is listed by the Coast Guard as the third boat passenger along with an unidentified fourth person.
Smith, 29, had 30 tackles, including three sacks, and an interception in 12 games last season for the winless Lions. Smith, who is 6-foot-2, 250 pounds, also played for the San Francisco 49ers and played college ball at North Carolina State. He started with the Lions in 2006.
Del Duca called Smith one of the "good guys" of the league and was planning to start visiting teams as a free agent this week. He said he has spoken with Smith's family and is also in touch with Coast Guard officials.
"They've assured me that they're deploying all available resources to look for these guys and get them back," he said.
Cooper, 26, has played sparingly in five seasons with the Buccaneers, Seahawks, Jaguars, Steelers and Raiders. Cooper, who is 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, played college ball at Washington. <!--stopindex-->