Professional Football Player. He was a current member of the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League (NFL), and a former defensive linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks and Jacksonville Jaguars. He was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the 79th overall pick out of the University of Washington in Seattle, during the third round of the 2004 NFL draft. On March 1st, Cooper organized a fishing trip in the Gulf of Mexico with NFL free agent Corey Smith, and former University of South Florida football players Will Bleakley and Nick Schuyler. Encountering severe weather during their fishing expedition, the four men were tossed into the frigid gulf waters off the coast of Florida after their 21 foot boat overturned in rough sea conditions. The four managed to remain together into the early morning hours of the following day before becoming separated. An extensive search conducted by the United States Coast Guard resulted in the rescue of former college football player Nick Schuyler, the lone survivor of the boating accident. The remaining three members of the fishing party were presumed to have died as a result of drowning or as a result of hypothermia exposure.
Professional Football Player. He was a current member of the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League (NFL), and a former defensive linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks and Jacksonville Jaguars. He was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the 79th overall pick out of the University of Washington in Seattle, during the third round of the 2004 NFL draft. On March 1st, Cooper organized a fishing trip in the Gulf of Mexico with NFL free agent Corey Smith, and former University of South Florida football players Will Bleakley and Nick Schuyler. Encountering severe weather during their fishing expedition, the four men were tossed into the frigid gulf waters off the coast of Florida after their 21 foot boat overturned in rough sea conditions. The four managed to remain together into the early morning hours of the following day before becoming separated. An extensive search conducted by the United States Coast Guard resulted in the rescue of former college football player Nick Schuyler, the lone survivor of the boating accident. The remaining three members of the fishing party were presumed to have died as a result of drowning or as a result of hypothermia exposure.
Bio by: Nils M. Solsvik Jr.
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