Broken neck a distant memory for Raiders' new CB Bartell

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ALAMEDA -- Initially, Ron Bartell thought it was just a stinger.Sure, the cornerback had to be helped off the ground after getting caught in the crush of Ronnie Brown's eight-yard run around the left side with about nine minutes left in the St. Louis Rams' 2011 season opener against Philadelphia. But he planned on coming back in the game later since the injury did not feel like anything that significant. Thankfully, though, the Rams were getting blown out by the Eagles so he did not return, lest he risk further, more permanent damage. A CT scan and an MRI that night showed a pair of fractures high in Bartell's neck.Season over? With a literal broken neck, it was time to start thinking of a new line of work. But a funny thing happened to Bartell on his way to retirement -- his neck healed, he was given a clean bill of health and the Raiders, embarking upon a new era under general manager Reggie McKenzie and coach Dennis Allen, came calling."I feel great," Bartell said recently. "Im 100 percentIts the first time Ive ever been injured. You get banged up a lot in this game, but its the first injury Ive ever had where Ive had to miss a significant amount of time. Luckily for me, it was(a) fracture, and everything healed up fine. Im just ready to play ball and Im happy to be back."I never had to go through that anxiety of getting carted off the field or losing feeling or paralysis or anything. So, from that standpoint, I never had to experience it. For me, once I got the clearance, Im fine, Im ready to go.Signed to a reported one-year, 3 million free-agent contact on March 16, the 6-foot-1, 210-pound Bartell, who was in a neck brace until mid-December, is the physical cornerback the Raiders need to implement the pressure scheme brought by Allen and first-year defensive coordinator Jason Tarver.Even if Bartell did not exactly pile up the stats in seven season with the Rams, he has eight career interceptions, though none since 2008, and two sacks, the last also coming four years ago."He's a big athletic corner that can run, and that's what we were looking for and that's what we got in him," Allen said of Bartell."He's shown he's completely back. You know, I think it took him a little time to get his legs back under him, but he's seems to be back. And we'll find out more about him, again, when we start putting the pads on and get a chance to hit a bit."But it's his presence the Raiders are counting on as they rebuild their cornerback group, which has lost starters in Stanford Routt, Chris Johnson and Nnamdi Asomugha since last summer and retained 2011 draft picks DeMarcus Van Dyke and Chimdi Chekwa."Im a consistent football player," Bartell said. "You know what youre going to get from me week in, week out. Im going to challenge guys, Im going to challenge wide receivers and Im going to be where Im supposed to be. Just having a guy in a room -- we have a lot of young guys -- so just to have a guy in the room who has played a lot of snaps, a lot of football, seen a lot of variety of things and just be able to bring a calming influence into the room, thats what my strengths are. Hopefully, I can help us rank a little big higher in that pass defense, but well see what happens.The Raiders ranked 27th in pass defense a year ago, giving up 251.4 yards per game through the air. Hence the change in philosophyand scheme as they continue their third session of OTAs this week.
"I love the scheme," Bartell said. "Its a multiple-look scheme, it puts a lot of different people in positions to make plays. Some schemes are predicated upon D-line, some are on linebackers, some are on secondary play, but it puts everybody, on every level of the defense, it gives you the opportunity to make plays. It gives guys the chance to show their versatility."Seemingly gone from Silver and Blackdom are the days of a staid 4-3 defense predicated upon man-coverage. And Bartell says his initial reservations about coming to Oakland have long since faded."Its a good situation, its a good opportunity," he said. "Theres some guys on the staff that Im familiar with, a chance to be around some fresh faces, some young, energetic guys, a whole new city, a whole new part of the country, a new organization, so it brings some excitement for me. Im looking forward to it."And yet, questions remain about the neck."I would say Ive been completely (healed) and 100 percent since about March," Bartell insisted. "I feel great. The injury happened early in the year. I didnt get a lot of wear and tear on my body because I played one game, so I feel fresh, new spirit, just excitement to help get this team back to where it should be. So, Im just ready to play ball."

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