The play starts and there is Kevin Curtis in the slot and then, zoom, he is past the defensive back and catching a Marc Bulger pass and turning up the field. There is Curtis on the outside, working against a cornerback on a hard backpedal, digging into his route and turning to the sideline for another catch.

And there is Curtis 20 yards down the field, catching a pass and absorbing a crunching hit at the same time.

The eye in the sky doesn't lie. And in Curtis' case, the video tells the truth: He can play wide receiver, and what he adds to this Eagles offense is going to be substantial.

So much for a slow off-season. The Eagles pulled a big one out of the hat on Thursday, agreeing to terms with Curtis on a six-year contract worth, according to reports, mega bucks. It is a blockbuster deal, to be sure, as much in dollars as it is in timing and in execution and, we hope, in impact.

Given up for dead in free agency by the critics, the Eagles made a stunning move with Curtis. The fifth-year wide receiver was pursued heavily in free agency by as many as five teams -- the Eagles, Tennessee, Detroit, Minnesota and the Giants.

Curtis adds versatility to Eagles' offense

The Eagles got their guy. So what does Curtis, who played four years with the Rams, bring to the table? A lot of everything, really. He is fast, really fast, so the vertical component of the offense is very much intact.

Curtis is a tough guy, which belies his size. He has excellent hands. He gets into and out of cuts extremely well. He is a versatile wide receiver who is going to get open and make plays.

The Eagles said all along they liked their pre-Curtis corps of wide receivers. OK, fine. Curtis is a terrific addition and rounds out the group.

"That's the truth," said Eagles general manager Tom Heckert regarding the team's opinion of its wide receivers. "We didn't know we were going to get him (Curtis) until, shoot, an hour ago (Thursday afternoon). And if we didn't get him, it wasn't like we were going to go after the next best wide receiver.

"Kevin was a guy we thought was a good player, so we were going to make an attempt to sign him. If we could, great. If we couldn't, we were comfortable with our guys.

"We just think he is a good player. He has speed, he has run-after-the-catch ability, he can catch the ball and he is a smart kid. Everything added up."

For everyone who has the Wide Receiver Fever with the Eagles, there really isn't a need to fret any longer. Right? I mean, the Eagles have both Curtis and Reggie Brown signed to long-term deals. They have veteran Greg Lewis, who fills his role perfectly as a third or fourth receiver. They have two youngsters, Hank Baskett and Jason Avant, whom they believe will contribute to the offense, Curtis or no Curtis.

In short, this could be the best short-term and long-term wide receiver picture the Eagles have ... dare I say it? ... ever had.

"We think Kevin can really help us," said Heckert.

The possibilities are endless, that's for sure. Curtis doesn't have to be an 80-catch receiver in this offense. Brown is going to get his. Brian Westbrook is going to get a lot of his. Same with tight end L.J. Smith. Combined with a great offensive line and the return of Donovan McNabb to full health, boy, this offense has a chance to be incredible.

Load up in the box against these skill-position players and a defense is going to get burned down the field. Drop back in a zone and watch the Eagles gash a defense with the running game.

It is a complete picture here. Certainly, the Eagles believed in the offense before Curtis, but having him is clearly a plus.

Happy now? Hey Eagles fans, thanks for your patience. It has been an up-and-down free-agency period and we all know that. Right now, it is totally on the upswing and the Eagles aren't finished. They entertained running back Ron Dayne on Thursday and that position -- second running back -- seems to be a real possibility to be addressed very soon. There might be some other irons in the fire, and then you know the team will be active in the draft.

You are going to like Curtis. He plays hard. He plays with urgency. He's fast and jittery and tough and he obviously loves the game and cherishes every moment on the field.

And he is going to help this team in a large, large way. A little guy is a big addition, and just like that, the off-season picture has changed dramatically. What else do the Eagles need? Offensive line? Check. Receivers? Check. Defense? Ah, there's a focus, and it will be.

We can talk about that later. Right now, enjoy the moment. Enjoy the feeling: The Eagles -- surprise, surprise -- are players in free agency.