Henley’s Bond Is Posted : Football: Rams promise $2 million so embattled cornerback can travel to Atlanta for game.

With the aid of a $1-million insurance policy from Lloyd’s of London, the Rams posted $2-million bond Thursday for embattled cornerback Darryl Henley, clearing him to play against the Falcons in Atlanta this weekend.

The decision by Ram President John Shaw to back Henley resolved for now an on-again, off-again relationship that began when Henley was named in a federal indictment last year as an alleged kingpin in a cocaine conspiracy ring.

The team signed Henley this year, cut him because of travel restrictions associated with his bail, and then re-signed him Wednesday after a federal judge dropped one of the key restrictions--ordering Henley to be tailed by a court official on the road.

But although the Rams promised $2 million, they freed themselves of having to pay the entire amount if Henley flees.

Besides the $1-million insurance policy--which is costing the Rams a premium payment of between $20,000 and $50,000--the team has posted $200,000 in cash on Henley’s behalf, which amounts to an advance on this season’s salary.

The Rams signed Henley on Wednesday to an NFL minimum $162,000 but are expected to pay him closer to the $350,000, one-year contract the team agreed to earlier. Some pay is expected to be deducted for the opening game Henley missed last week.

The $800,000 balance of the $2-million bond the Rams have posted is also being guaranteed by Henley, although team officials said the details are still being worked out with Henley’s agent.

“I believe Darryl knows what is expected of him,” Shaw said Wednesday.

The U.S. Attorney’s office, which is prosecuting Henley, agreed to the team’s pledge, but before a deal could be worked out, federal officials had to call the Rams’ bank to verify that they had at least $2 million in their account. Once that was confirmed, they signed off on Shaw’s affidavit.

Henley said he was pleased that everything appeared to be settled for now.

“I just play football now, I guess, and for real this time,” he said. “But hey, you never know. It’s been like my quote all year: ‘You never know’ ”

Although Henley is now free to travel to Atlanta this weekend, he faces one more obstacle before he is free to play out the season. U.S. District Court Judge Gary L. Taylor on Thursday raised Henley’s local bail from $200,000 to $600,000, saying the original amount was set too low when Henley was arrested last December.

In his order, Taylor called the higher bond “a reasonably necessary condition . . . to assure defendant’s appearance at future court proceedings and the safety of the community.”

Henley must come up with the higher amount by Sept. 16 or go to jail.

Henley’s attorneys might be able to resolve the issue by getting Taylor to agree that the $2-million travel bond can apply whether Henley is in or out of the Central District of California. The U.S. Attorney’s office has indicated it would not oppose such a request, but to this point, Taylor has made it clear that the two bonds are being treated separately.

Shaw has said that an increase in the local bond is Henley’s problem.

Henley’s attorneys say raising the addition money might be difficult. The original $200,000 bond was secured by his parent’s home in Upland, and his attorneys say he has very little equity in his house in Brea.

Henley said he was not familiar with the financial terms of the agreement, although he was in U.S. District Court clerk’s office in Santa Ana Thursday trying to make arrangements for his part of the cash bail.

“I got some people that I trust working them out,” he said. “I’m sure the finances are fine. I just want to worry about playing.”