Ron Bartell Ronald Bartell ( born February 22 , 1982 in Detroit , Michigan ) is an American football cornerback in the National Football League for the Detroit Lions . He was drafted by the St . Louis Rams in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft . He played college football at Howard . Early years . Bartell played safety and receiver for Renaissance High School in Detroit , Michigan , from 1996 - 1999 . He also ran track and played basketball . He caught 23 passes for 385 yards with four touchdowns on offense and had 45 tackles and four interceptions on defense as a senior when he was named All - City , All - Metro and City Defensive Back of the Year . College career . Bartell began his college football career at Central Michigan University but left the school in 2002 " distraught with the direction the program was going " and stated he went through five position coaches in 2½ years at the school and he felt he wasn ' t getting any better . He transferred to Howard University where he started in 38 out of 45 games and was an administration of criminal justice major . Bartell was a Second - team All - Mid - Eastern Athletic Conference as a senior . Professional career . St . Louis Rams . Bartell was selected by the St . Louis Rams in the second round ( 50th overall ) in the 2005 NFL Draft . On July 29 , 2005 , Bartell agreed to a 4 - year $ 3 . 04 million contract with the Rams . In his rookie season he played in ten games making seven starts ( after starting right cornerback Travis Fisher was injured ) and recorded 34 tackles . In the 2006 season he made 25 tackles and three interceptions . His first career interception came at the Oakland Raiders on December 17 , 2006 . The 2007 season was a career best in terms of tackles made as he ended the campaign with 67 , along with one sack and two interceptions . In 2007 Bartell started the first four games in place of right cornerback Fakhir Brown who was on the NFL suspended list . Bartell ended the season starting six games for the injured left cornerback Tye Hill and in between he started two games as the Rams nickleback when the team opened in a five defensive back alignment . In 2008 Bartell again began the season starting at right corner back for Fakhir Brown , who had a broken collar bone and was released and then re - signed . After Brown returned , starting left cornerback Tye Hill was again hurt and placed on injured reserve . Bartell stepped in and started the final 11 games as the left corner . For the season he played in 16 games , starting 14 and made 56 tackles ( 46 solo ) , one sack , three interceptions , 20 passes defensed , two forced fumbles and one fumble recovered . Bartell became a free agent following the 2008 season , but was resigned by the Rams to a four - year , $ 28 million contract , including $ 13 . 6 million in guarantees on March 2 , 2009 . Bartell fractured his neck during the Rams ' 2011 season opener vs the Philadelphia Eagles and missed the rest of the season on injured reserve . He was released by the Rams on March 12 , 2012 . Oakland Raiders . Bartell signed with the Oakland Raiders on March 16 , 2012 . He was released on December 10 , 2012 . Detroit Lions . Bartell signed with the Detroit Lions on December 17 , 2012 .