Ex Bear Evey - Fire flicker of hope

Crruuunch! He's nicknamed "Jungle Jim" or "Rhino" and when you clasp Richard Theodore Evey's huge right hand, everything about yourself seems small and Insignificant.

Charred by lost week's 25-point home defeat to Florida, the Chicago Fire went looking for lotsa help these past few days.

They've found some in 33-year-old Dick Evey. A nine-year defensive line vet who'll likely be In uniform (No. 81) when Chicago hosts Philadelphia at 8:05 tonight In Soldier Field.

Fire personnel director Bill Byrne lured the former Chicago Bear away from hilly Tennessee where Evey, a 6-foot-4, 245-ppunder, was tending his 350 acres of woodland and grazing pasture near Smoky MountainsNational Park.

He retreated there In June, bowing out of Chicago's Lake Forest College training camp agninst the wishes of head coach Jim Spavital and everyone else in the organization.

"Listen, whatever you write, take it easy on me, will ya?" Evey pleaded after reporting on Monday. "I feel kinda bad sneaking back in here like this."

But the Fire doesn't feel bad about having him return. No, sir! "Dick's a pro. He's played," said Byrne. "He'll help this team as far as all the young guys we've got."

Although he's not admitting it verbatim, Spavital's been waiting for defensive line maturity, especially on the pass rush, and it just hasn't shown.

Inexperience is the key. Rookie ends Mick Heinrich and Ken Sanduk are sandwiched around 27-year old tackle Chuck Bailey who took side trips with the New York Giants, New England Patriots and Midwest Football League before sticking in Chicago.

Last week, some writers tried to make Florida coach Jack Pardce say that a "three-man" defensive line isn't sound football. His answers were predictably diplomatic.

"Hell's bells! We played a four-man line 90 per cent of that game," said Spavital, alluding to linebacker help. "There's a lot of teams with four-man lines and that's all they've got. We've got four wins."

Chicago was weakened during the second pro-season Detroit scrimmage when it lost sure starter Glenn Robinson, a 6-7, 245-pounder from Oklahoma State, to torn knee ligaments. He might play this season.

So Evey's return has lifted some hearts. He played six years with the Bears after they drafted him first round out of Tennessee In 1964. Knee injuries trailed him to Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Detroit where his NFL career ended.

Byrne signed Evey to a three-year Fire contract and it was a surprise when he left the Lake Forest camp, "I was overly concerned with my legs, especially the general health of my knees," Evey said. "Fundamentally, they're good now. I just don't know about the strength."

Spavital can make one active roster change until an hour before game time. Linebacker Keith Best, injured the past three games Is due back. He'll probably bump Sherwin Jarmon who hasn't done much since taking Best's spot on the active roster.

J.D. Armstrong, another linebacker, could be vulnerable, but he forced and recovered a goal line fumble last week against Florida.

Byrne wasn't dropping any specifics, but hinted the Fire hasn't stopped shopping for talent. "I think Wednesday will prove whether we need to make any major changes," he said. "They know what defeat Is now. We had a letdown last week. There's no doubt about It."

Here's one guess: It's obvious that beyond Virgil Carter, tops in the World Football League with 1,006 yards passing, Fire quartcrbacking isn't much. Back-up Maurie Daigneau can't hit his receivers and punter Chuck Ramsey has been taught the offense.

Wide receivers coach Steve Tensl, who quarterbacked for San Diego and Denver in the NFL, has thrown extensively in recent practice sessions.

Spavital said it "wouldn't be likely" that Tensl will be activated unless something happens to Carter.

"His arm's in pretty good shape but his other conditioning is not that good," Spavital said.

"He hasn't been doing any running and was sick for about 10 days. In fact, he didn't make the western swing." Tensl experienced a sizable weight loss. His playing career ended in 1970-71 with Denver's Broncos.

On tonight's game: Philadelphia has a two-game win streak, a 3-2 record and joins New York at one game behind Florida in the WFL Eastern Division.

The Bell rocked Memphis, 46-15, last week and was on top, 30-zip, at halftime. Like Florida signal caller, Bob Davis, Phllly quarterback King Corcoran played behind Broadway Joe Namath on the New York Jets.

Corcoran is tho WFL's top percentage passer, 56.2%, on 77 completions in 137 attempts. Chicago's Carter is 69-of-131 for 52.7%.

THE FIRE LOG — Evey's arrival increases to six the number of ex-Bears now in Fire uniforms. The others are Carter, Cyril Pinder, Jim Seymour, Rudy Kuechenberg and Steve Wright.

Unbeaten Birmingham retains a onegame lead over Chicago (4-1) in the Central Division. The Americans host one-time winner Hawaii tonight.

Daigneau's published remarks this week ...He'd accept a trade if it comes along... might not do him any favors if Byrne can locate a better replacement for Carter.

James Scott leads the WFL with 27 pass receptions giving him a seven catch edge over Birmingham's Dennis Homan. The Fire's Jack Dolbin is tied for fifth with 16 catches.

Mark Kellar's 64 points leads Birmingham's Alfred Jenkins by 21 for league scoring honors. Kellar's 264 yards rushing is sixth.