Tank Johnson Helping Search for Missing Boaters

[Hostile]

Tank Johnson still searching for friend missing at sea

9:56 AM Wed, Mar 04, 2009
Tim MacMahon

Finding a new team is far from the most important thing on Tank Johnson's mind right now. He's in Florida searching for a childhood friend after the Coast Guard has given up hope.

Raiders linebacker Marquis Cooper, one of three men who haven't been found after their boat capsized Saturday night, grew up with Johnson and played college ball with him at Washington.

Johnson, speaking on behalf of Cooper's family, asked for the public's help in continuing the search during a press conference last night in Tampa.

"What we are asking for is experienced aviation pilots who are interested in helping us find the remains if not Marquis floating on the water and Corey and the other gentleman," Johnson said.

"Anything can happen, stranger things have happened and we still have faith," he said. "If nothing else, get the remains back so we can have our family service and move on with closure in our life and that chapter. But these are people who we love dearly."

 

[Hostile]

TAMPA, FL. (KLTV)
[FONT=Verdana,Arial]Tank Johnson asks for public's help in missing boaters search[/FONT]

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Tank Johnson asks for public's help in missing boaters search

The Coast Guard has called off its search for two NFL players and a third man, missing at sea.

But one family and one Dallas Cowboy is not giving up on their search.

Cowboys defensive tackle Terry ''Tank'' Johnson is a childhood friend and former college teammate of Marquis Cooper.

A linebacker with the Oakland Raiders, Cooper along with Detroit Lion Corey Smith and former South Florida player William Bleakley went missing Saturday night when their boat capsized in rough waters off the coast of Florida.

Speaking on behalf of the family, Tank Johnson asked for the public's help in continuing their own search.

"What we are asking for is experienced aviation pilots who are interested in helping us find the remains if not Marquis floating on the water and Corey and the other gentleman," Johnson said.

"Anything can happen, stranger things have happened and we still have faith," he said. "If nothing else, get the remains back so we can have our family service and move on with closure in our life and that chapter. But these are people who we love dearly."

Monday, Nick Schuyler was rescued, found clinging to the men's capsized boat.

 

[DFWJC]

It was so tough hearing how Cooper and Corey Smith finally just gave up--taking off their life jackets and letting go of the boat from exhaustion and just floating/sinking away. This according to Schuyler. It's hard to imagine really.
Just horrible, brutal stuff.

 

[Hostile]

It was so tough hearing how Cooper and Corey Smith finally just gave up--taking off their life jackets and letting go of the boat from exhaustion and just floating/sinking away. This according to Schuyler. It's hard to imagine really.
Just horrible, brutal stuff.

I have not heard that. I thought they got exhausted and floated away. I have not heard that they resigned themselves to die and took off the jackets.

 

[WoodysGirl]

I have not heard that. I thought they got exhausted and floated away. I have not heard that they resigned themselves to die and took off the jackets.

REPORT: THE THREE MISSING BOATERS TOOK OFF THEIR LIFE VESTS
Posted by Mike Florio on March 4, 2009, 1:28 p.m.

Rarely if ever do I struggle to start writing one of these items. But I’ve spent the past several minutes at a complete loss for words.

Apparently, Nick Schuyler has informed authorities that each of the other three men who were on the 21-foot fishing boat that capsized off the Gulf Coast of Florida voluntarily removed their life jackets.

Within two to four hours after the boat flipped, one of the two NFL players, Marquis Cooper of the Raiders and Corey Smith of the Lions, removed his life jacket and allowed himself to drift out to sea.

Then, a few hours later, the other NFL player did the same.

Finally, on Monday morning, Bleakley thought he saw a light in the distance. So he removed his life jacket and swam to it in an effort to get help.

“I think he was delusional to think he could swim someplace,” Bob Bleakley said.

This news makes the tragedy even more horrific. If they only had stayed together on the hull of the boat, they all would have been saved.

But the psychological burdens of such circumstances are surely very heavy, and reality like becomes twisted and distorted very quickly.

So, again, pray for the families of the men who were lost. But also pray for Nick Schuyler, who will carry the guilt that goes along with being the only survivor of the tragedy, and that goes along with the fact he wasn’t able to convince three of his friends to refuse to surrender.

 

[jterrell]

good for Tank.

 

[AMERICAS_FAN]

[B
Johnson, speaking on behalf of Cooper's family, asked for the public's help in continuing the search during a press conference last night in Tampa.

Sounds like someone is beginning his PR campaign to become a Bucaneer. :laugh2:

OH, STOP WHAT YOU'RE THINKING - I'm judt kidding!

On a more serious note, I do think that this is a noble act that Tank Johnson is performing (but I still won't go so far as to view HIM as noble, per se).

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

Assuming they drowned, what is the likelihood that the bodies would stay afloat?

Wouldn't they have drifted below the surface after a period of time?

 

[DFWJC]

I have not heard that. I thought they got exhausted and floated away. I have not heard that they resigned themselves to die and took off the jackets.

In the DMN today via The St Petersburg Times, it says this. "Schuyler told investigators that two to four hours after the boat overtuned, Cooper and Smith gave up hope and removed their life jackets. One of the two football players, Schuyler reportedly told the Coast Guard allowed himself to be swept away in the waves. The other player did the same a few hours later."

Hard to imagine really, but they were taking hours of brutal pounding. Still, lot's of 2nd and 3rd sources here, so I guess maybe we'll get a full story later. Even then, we may nevr know for sure what happened. In any case, it sucks to the nth degree.

 

[Smith22]

Tragic stuff.

 

[heavyg]

This is just very sad. But it just does not sound right. Why would anyone take off thief life-jacket and float away? Something in this story does not add up IMO

 

[xWraithx]

when the hell is this Schuyler guy going to say something definite?

 

[Smith22]

This is just very sad. But it just does not sound right. Why would anyone take off thief life-jacket and float away? Something in this story does not add up IMO

No idea. But what else could there be to the story? I don't think the survivor designed a plan to kill 3 people and see if he could survive for 2 days straight in the middle of the ocean.

 

[jobberone]

It's not looking good for recovery.

 

[heavyg]

No idea. But what else could there be to the story? I don't think the survivor designed a plan to kill 3 people and see if he could survive for 2 days straight in the middle of the ocean.

I didn't mean to make it sound like he killed them. It justs makes no sense to me that they would give up like that. I could see getting exhausted and letting go of the boat but not taking off the life jackets

 

[Smith22]

I didn't mean to make it sound like he killed them. It justs makes no sense to me that they would give up like that. I could see getting exhausted and letting go of the boat but not taking off the life jackets

Panic. Not being in control of the situation? I don't know. The whole thing is crazy. It's a shame.

 

[DaBoys4Life]

I think it's crazy that they would just give up hope like that...I would like to think I would fight to the bitter end in that situation but who knows???

 

[Hostile]

In the DMN today via The St Petersburg Times, it says this. "Schuyler told investigators that two to four hours after the boat overtuned, Cooper and Smith gave up hope and removed their life jackets. One of the two football players, Schuyler reportedly told the Coast Guard allowed himself to be swept away in the waves. The other player did the same a few hours later."

Hard to imagine really, but they were taking hours of brutal pounding. Still, lot's of 2nd and 3rd sources here, so I guess maybe we'll get a full story later. Even then, we may nevr know for sure what happened. In any case, it sucks to the nth degree.

Judas Priest.

Even if I thought I was going to die I'd rather my family find the body.

 

[TRUTH87]

when the hell is this Schuyler guy going to say something definite?

why doesnt this guy refer to them by their name? all we read is that one football player took his life jacket off and then the other. since he was there i would assume he'd be more specific about what happened and who did what.......

maybe he couldnt see exactly who got drifted away first?

 

[Smith22]

why doesnt this guy refer to them by their name? all we read one football player took his life jacket off and then the other. since he was there i would assume he'd be more specific about what happened and who did what.......

maybe he couldnt see exactly who got drifted away first?

he was in the middle of the ocean for 46 hours straight. I'm assuming with no food or drink. Cut the guy a little slack.