Their surprisingly competitive performance during a 2001 rebuilding season, coupled with a few high-profile free agent acquisitions and one of the NFL's best draft classes, has made Dallas a preferred choice among those pundits who annually attempt to identify the "sleeper" playoff contenders heading into training camp.

Certainly the Cowboys, having finally escaped the clutches of the negative cap situation that hamstrung the franchise the past few years, are a team worth watching. Especially on the defensive side of the ball, where head coach Dave Campo never saw much quit from a unit that statistically ranked No. 4 in the league last year, the Cowboys can line up with just about anyone. On offense, however, progress probably will be measured by the play of one of two quarterbacks, Quincy Carter or Chad Hutchinson.

For the first month of the season in particular, as Emmitt Smith continues his inexorable pursuit of Walter Payton's career rushing record, the atmosphere surrounding this team could be a real circus. But anyone who goes into a game with the Cowboys believing they are clowns is apt to be surprised. For years, owner Jerry Jones mismanaged the cap, but he now seems to have hit on the right formula for refurbishing his team.

Where will this bring the Cowboys?

Dallas is probably still a year away from playoff contention although, in a diluted NFC East now seemingly dominated by the Philadelphia Eagles, it is possible the Cowboys could make a run at a wildcard berth. Doubtless this is a franchise now pointed in the right direction, with a solid nucleus of young players, surrounded by some serviceable veterans with a good year or two left in their careers.

	CAMP AT A GLANCE
	Emmitt Smith is just 539 yards short of Walter Payton's NFL career rushing record of 16,726 yards.
	Location: Alamodome, San Anotonio, Texas Rookies report: July 26 Veterans report: July 26 Preseason schedule:    Aug. 9: Oakland    Aug. 17: at Carolina    Aug. 24: Atlanta    Aug. 29: at Jacksonville

The club made some astute acquisitions in free agency, such as defensive tackle La'Roi Glover and weakside linebacker Kevin Hardy, and enjoyed a solid first day of the draft. Through three rounds, no one was any better in the lottery than Jones, and that will pay dividends down the line.

With the New York Giants in decline and the Washington Redskins probably needing a year to assimilate the methods of Steve Spurrier, a second-place finish in the division is certainly attainable for the revamped Cowboys.

Man in the spotlight
At least for the first five or six games of the season, tailback Emmitt Smith will be the man literally in the spotlight, as he pursues the league rushing record. Entering his 13th season and at age 33, few players have as much heart and desire as Smith possesses, but it remains to be seen how much gas is left in the tank. Smith rushed for 1,021 yards in 2001 and marked his lowest total since his 1990 rookie campaign. His 3.9 yards per carry was the lowest since 1996.

There is some feeling that, after Smith breaks the record, the Cowboys will slowly turn over the feature back role to Troy Hambrick, who averaged a healthy 5.1 yards per carry on 113 rushes last season. He hasn't quite been anointed as the heir apparent, but Hambrick is definitely a player the Dallas coaches like.

Key position battle
Incumbent right cornerback Mario Edwards started 15 of 16 games in 2001 but retaining his job will mean having to ward off some competition. The team signed former Detroit first-round choice Bryant Westbrook and, while the five-year veteran has been slowed by injury problems (primarily an Achilles) for nearly two years, he is a big, physical player who could start if he is recovered. Former Kansas City corner Pat Dennis, another big corner, also figures into the mix.

The competition to succeed Mark Stepnoski at center figures to be won by second-round rookie Andre Gurode, but second-year pro Matt Lehr will be a factor as well. Whoever loses the battle for the starting job probably will be the top backup at guard and center.

Injury update
The health of Hardy, still recovering from a knee injury that limited him to just nine games with Jacksonville in 2001, will be key. The Cowboys lack an outside pass rush from their front four and hope Hardy can contribute 8-10 sacks coming off the edge. He finally got onto the practice field in early July and, while not yet 100 percent, seems to be moving in the right direction.

Defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban, trying to return from back surgery, remains a question mark at this point, but is insisting he will be ready to go full-out in training camp. Kicker Tim Seder (ankle) and quarterback Quincy Carter (hamstring) appear ready to go.

Rookie report
First-round safety Roy Williams, the man Dallas had targeted weeks before the draft, will start immediately alongside Darren Woodson , and the rest of the members of the team's first day bounty all figure to get significant playing time as rookies. In addition to Gurode, fellow second-round pick Antonio Bryant, a wide receiver whose stock dipped in the months preceding the draft, has impressed coaches and gives Dallas something other than the pure speed dimension starters Joey Galloway and Raghib Ismail provide.

Third-round choice Derek Ross, a cornerback from Ohio State, likewise fell in the draft as a result of some off-field problems during his college career. But he is the kind of big, physical corner every teams covets and, if Ross' head is right, he will be a starter by his second season in the league. It was almost as if the Cowboys coasted on the second day of the draft but fourth-round fullback Jamar Martin could prove a very good selection.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.