PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : RAMS : Henley Faces Challenge Again

Darryl Henley has started at right cornerback in 36 of the last 38 games he has played for the Rams, but Robert Bailey and Steve Israel are nipping at his heels.

Bailey, a man-to-man specialist, is entering his third year. When the Rams drafted Israel last season in the second round, most people expected him to take Henley’s job. He failed, however.

The competition has resumed.

“He’s not backing down for nothing, and that’s what you would expect from him,” Rod Perry, the Rams’ defensive backfield coach, said of Henley. “He just has this burning desire to get better, and hates to get beat.

“There is a lot of competition and a lot of talk, but there aren’t too many things that bother Darryl. He’s hanging tough.”

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Saturday’s scrimmage with the San Diego Chargers, which was going to be staged in Cal State Fullerton’s football stadium, has been moved to adjacent practice fields because the Rams took exception to the school’s insistence on a $5 admission fee.

The Rams said the 10:30 a.m. scrimmage will be free, although the school will charge $3 for parking.

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Linebacker Shane Conlan, who suffered a hyper-extended knee on Friday, returned to practice Monday.

Defensive linemen Bill Hawkins and Mike Piel, however, have still not been cleared to join the team for practices. Hawkins suffered a knee injury in November, and Piel has been bothered by a sore shoulder.