Associated Press
The NFL notebook …
TAMPA, Fla. ó Family and friends refused to give up the search for two NFL players and a third man missing four days in the Gulf of Mexico, enlisting private boats and planes to comb the waters off the Florida coast.
The Coast Guard called off the official search Tuesday for Oakland Raiders linebacker Marquis Cooper, free-agent NFL defensive lineman Corey Smith, who played for the Detroit Lions last season, and former South Florida player William Bleakley. The friends have been missing since their boat overturned Saturday in rough seas.
Authorities were done, but about a dozen charter boats motored out Wednesday, some with friends of the families aboard, to try to locate some signs of the men, according to dock workers at John’s Pass near St. Petersburg. Three private planes also flew over the endless stretch of water, according to Cooper’s father.
“Everyone around here, they’ve either known someone or heard of someone who’s been lost out at sea,” said David Scott, who works at a marina at John’s Pass. “It’s just one of those situations. Everyone really comes together in times like these.”
A fourth man on the fishing trip, Bleakley’s former South Florida teammate, Nick Schuyler, was rescued Monday after a Coast Guard cutter crew found him clinging to the hull 35 miles off Clearwater. His doctor said it’s a “miracle” Schuyler survived in the 63-degree Gulf water for nearly two days.
RAVENS
OWINGS MILLS, Md. ó The Baltimore Ravens brought back a famous Pro Bowl player and added another one, too.
Linebacker Ray Lewis will finish his career with the Ravens after reaching agreement on a three-year deal with Baltimore, which also agreed with center Matt Birk on Wednesday.
“From beginning to end as a Raven. … Wow!” To be with the same team with the same fans for an entire career, that doesn’t happen in the NFL,” Lewis said after concluding negotiations on a deal worth nearly $22 million. “I don’t think an athlete can have a greater legacy than to be able to stay in one place for an entire career.”
BENGALS
CINCINNATI ó Cedric Benson isn’t running in place anymore.
Nine months ago, the running back with seemingly unlimited potential was out of football, undone by his poor choices off the field. Two alcohol-related arrests prompted the Chicago Bears to waive their former first-round draft pick.
The only team that wanted him was one with a history of taking chances on troubled players, risks that often caused them grief and regret.
Not this time.The Cincinnati Bengals gave Benson a two-year contract on Tuesday to become the cornerstone of their rebuilt offense. Instead of leaving as a free agent, the 26-year-old running back decided to stick with the team that offered him another chance last September when he was at a low point.
– CINCINNATI ó The Bengals are moving quickly to replace departed receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, reaching preliminary agreement on a contract with former Jets receiver Laveranues Coles.
EAGLES
PHILADELPHIA ó Looking to bolster a depleted secondary, the Philadelphia Eagles met with veteran cornerback Shawn Springs on Wednesday. Springs, who turns 34 next week, was released by Washington in a salary-cap purge.
49ERS
SAN FRANCISCO ó Linebacker Takeo Spikes re-signed with the San Francisco 49ers, who also signed veteran quarterback Damon Huard shortly after being spurned by Kurt Warner.
JETS
NEW YORK ó The New York Jets agreed to terms with kicker Jay Feely.