About a year ago I was fired from my job after 7 years. For a while I tried to work as a self employed general contrator. I have been unable to make a go of it. Can I still file for unemployment from my former employer?

It can't hurt to try. There's no penalty for being wrong.

Yes, however your covered wages will be much less, thereby considerably reducing your weekly benefit rate ("WBR").

Most states determine your covered wages by taking the first four (4) of the last five (5) completed quarters. In other words if you filed tomorrow, then the State would determine your WBR based on wages earned Q1-Q4 2005. With Q2 2006 about to come to an end, you should most definitely file tomorrow to capture the most wages.