Do We Have a Plan B?

So much for a knight in midnight green armor riding into town this season.

The Cardinals and Larry Fitzgerald agreed to terms on a restructured contract today that will keep the receiver in Arizona for the next four seasons.

I guess I shouldn't be completely surprised, as receivers of Fitzgerald's caliber don't come available too often. But now that the door is closed on the possibility of Fitzgerald coming to Philly, the Eagles can turn to Plan B.

They must have a Plan B, right?

Here are three guys who could possibly fill the Eagles' number one receiver vacancy, and the pros and cons of each.

Roy Williams (no, not the horse-collar cheap shot artist in Dallas)

Why He Makes Sense: Williams will be a free agent at the end of the season and will command a Javon Walker-type contract, which Detroit is unlikely to offer. The Eagles appear to be building for the short-term to try and cash one in before the end of the Donovan McNabb era, and one season of Williams fits with that philosophy. In his four seasons in the league, Williams has averaged 61 catches for 912 yards and seven touchdowns.

Why He Doesn't: His touchdown numbers have decreased each year (8-8-7-5). He's also been injury-prone during his first few seasons, having only played in all 16 games once in his career. If he knows he's a short-term rental, he could play the entire season with an eye on the door. And, he could play tentatively trying to avoid a major injury in a contract year.

Torry Holt

Why He Makes Sense: Holt has had an electrifying career - 805 catches, 11,864 yards, 71 touchdowns. He's been to the Super Bowl and Pro Bowl. He's very much like Marvin Harrison in that he steps out of bounds or dives to avoid contact, which explains his durability (only two games missed in nine seasons).

Why He Doesn't: He's 31 years old and can't play at this level forever (see Harrison's injury that cost him the better part of 2007). The Rams are rumored to be interested in Lito Sheppard, but they also cut Isaac Bruce last month, and trading Holt would leave them extremely short-handed at receiver.

Chad Johnson

Why He Makes Sense: The talk has died down some, but Ocho Cinco is clearly not happy in Cincinnati and would undoubtedly like to move to a better situation. His stats have been great (at least 90 catches, 1,274 yards, and seven scores in each of the last five seasons), and he comes to play every day. Despite his boisterous antics, he hasn't been a divisive force in the locker room, as the Eagles wouldn't want to go down that road again.

Why He Doesn't: He's got a great relationship with Carson Palmer, who would more than likely raise hell in Cincinnati is his top target was sent packing. The O.C. has had some reported issues with coaches and been fined countless times by the league for his touchdown celebrations.

Of the aforementioned, I think Holt makes the most sense. He's a great receiver and a model citizen. He's also a two or three year solution, which coincides with McNabb's window.

So would the Rams bite on Sheppard and a receiver (Jason Avant?) for Holt? Does a receiving tandem of Holt, Kevin Curtis, and Reggie Brown put the Eagles over the top?

The possibility remains, of course, that the Eagles will trade not Sheppard, draft a few more linemen and special teamers, and attempt to make McNabb win a Super Bowl without a true number one receiver.

Let's call that Plan C.