This has to be some nasty joke being played on the Bidwill family, longtime owner of the Arizona Cardinals, right? For years, the Cardinals have been geographically misaligned, playing in the NFC East, and family patriarch Bill Bidwill never complained, because he liked the big crowds attracted by some of his map-challenged division opponents, like the Dallas Cowboys. So now comes wholesale realignment, with the Cardinals positioned in the new NFC West, and any improvement made in 2002 by Arizona figures to be negated by the fact it must now contend with St. Louis, San Francisco and Seattle.

Pity poor Dave McGinnis, too, since he is a terrific coach whose team might play its best football in years, but still could finish last in the new division.

Make no mistake, the Cardinals will be better in 2002, even if the standings don't reflect it. Bidwill opened up the family vault wide enough to sign free agent cornerback Duane Starks and tight end Freddie Jones, and the two should make valuable contributions this season. Starks was hands-down the best corner available in the unrestricted market. And while Jones has slipped a little the past two seasons, he is a nifty middle-range receiver, even if he doesn't run over many defensive backs after the catch.

The defense remains dubious, and the front four is among the thinnest in the league, but McGinnis will coach 'em up. And the unit will play with the same kind of tenacity that it demonstrated in 2001, when the No. 28 statistical finish didn't truly mirror the effort that many players put forth. Offensively, the Cardinals need quarterback Jake Plummer to continue the resurrection of his career, wide receiver David Boston to outmuscle corners every Sunday and third-year tailback Thomas Jones to finally display all those first-round skills with which he entered the league.

But even if all those things occur, Arizona will struggle just to reach the .500 mark, and it could still be a few years before the Cardinals are ready to seriously compete with the other three teams in the division.

	CAMP AT A GLANCE
	Thomas Jones has only rushed for 753 yards in two NFL seasons.
	Location: Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Ariz. Rookies report: July 25 Veterans report: July 25 Preseason schedule:    Aug. 10: at San Diego    Aug. 17: Green Bay    Aug. 24: Denver    Aug. 30: at Oakland

Where will this bring the Cardinals?

This year, the Cardinals are likely to answer this question: Can a last place team really be any good? It would take a lot of breaks, some players having career years, and help from a nucleus of young veterans with intriguing upsides for Arizona to finish even third in the NFC West. The division is a true gantlet and the Cardinals now must retool to compete with teams that throw the ball more than their old NFC East foes. The new challenge will not be met overnight, that's for sure.

The likeable McGinnis, who garners well-deserved respect from his players, has support from a front office that seems to appreciate the speed bumps he is facing. But McGinnis doesn't want any moral victories this season, and has probably tired of what seems for the Cardinals to be an eternal rebuilding process, so a few upsets would be reinforcement for a guy in a tough situation. In their 14 seasons in the Valley of the Sun, the Cardinals have been to the playoffs only one. They won't make it two in 2002, but that won't mean they haven't gotten better.

Man in the spotlight
The departure of versatile tailback Michael Pittman means that for the third straight year 2000 first-round choice Thomas Jones will go to camp as the starter. This is a definitely a make-or-break season for the former University of Virginia star, who was the seventh player chosen overall in 2000. In two seasons, Jones has rushed for just 753 yards and seven touchdowns, and he lost his starting job to Pittman both times. The Cardinals need a running game to help protect Plummer and, frankly, that means they need Jones to play up to his potential.

There isn't another tailback on the roster with even one regular-season carry and it's been somewhat surprising the Cardinals have not sought to secure a veteran backup. Instead, McGinnis seems willing to go with second-year veteran Marcel Shipp, an undrafted free agent in 2001. This is probably Jones' last chance and, if he doesn't deliver, he likely won't be around in 2003.

Key position battle
Undersized linebacker Raynoch Thompson made steady strides in 2001 and flashed some of his great athleticism. But at 217 pounds, it is difficult for Thompson to anchor against the run and he gets rag-dolled out of too many plays. So don't be too surprised if rookie Levar Fisher, a second-round draft choice, makes an early camp move on the starting job. Fisher is on the squat side, but he runs well, and has demonstrated good diagnostic skills. He is an aggressive player who is always coming forward and is usually poised in the classic hitting style.

The addition of Starks shores up one cornerback spot and automatically becomes the best cover player the Cardinals have had since Aeneas Williams was in his prime. The other starting spot is slated to go to David Barrett, but he may have to play well training camp to hold off challengers like second-year pro Michael Stone.

Injury update
It is still doubtful that two players coming off anterior cruciate injuries, defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch and kicker Bill Gramatica, will be full-speed at the outset of camp. Gramatica, of course, blew out his knee while celebrating a late game field goal. As much as the Cardinals need him to return, they need Vanden Bosch even more, because he is one of their few defenders with outside pass rush speed. The 2001 second-rounder has a huge motor and, given the Cardinals' dearth of defensive linemen, it would be a big lift he is comes back whole.

Rookie report
Arizona chose Wendell Bryant in the first round to bring some muscle and quickness to the front seven but the former Wisconsin defensive tackle never got onto the field during the spring because of a dispute over an injury protection clause. If he is signed and in camp on time, Bryant will eventually win a starting job. Third-round defensive end Dennis Johnson, the leading sacker in the SEC in 2001, almost certainly will get playing time in third-down situations. Another third-rounder, quarterback Josh McCown, could take over the primary backup spot behind Plummer.

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