PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : RAMS : Henley Signs One-Year, $350,000 Contract

Cornerback Darryl Henley Wednesday night signed a one-year, $350,000 contract to play for the Rams this season, and is expected to be on the practice field today.

Henley, who awaits a Jan. 10 trial date for cocaine possession and distribution, did not receive a signing bonus or any guaranteed money from the Rams. The team will have to release a player today to make room for Henley on its 80-man roster.

“Once the initial awkwardness is over with, the football end will take care of itself,” agent Marvin Demoff said. “I think Darryl is somewhat anxious on how he will be received, more so by (the media) and the public than the team.”

As a condition of Henley’s bail, he is not allowed to leave California, but the Rams said they were assured by Henley’s legal representatives that that will not be a problem.

“Those things, as I understand, are negotiable,” Coach Chuck Knox said. “It would be tough to play if you can only play half the games. That would be an unusual hardship to be placed on him and the team.”

*

The Rams will start Jackie Slater at right offensive tackle against the Green Bay Packers in Saturday’s exhibition opener at Madison, Wis. The team had planned to start Darryl Ashmore, asking Slater to take a cut in pay to return as a backup. Slater, however, has refused to give ground at training camp. . . . Quarterback T.J. Rubley is continuing to rest a sore arm and will not play Saturday.Doctors have been unable to locate any structural problem with Rubley’s arm.