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In the ironies of ironies, Troy Hambrick, who tired of being Emmitt Smith's backup with the Cowboys, is now once again . . . Emmitt Smith's backup.

In dire need of another running back, the Arizona Cardinals traded a conditional 2005 draft choice to acquire not only Hambrick from the Oakland Raiders, but also former Cowboys defensive end Peppi Zellner, who also was in camp with the Raiders this summer.

So now Hambrick again finds himself behind Smith, who became the Cardinals starter for sure once running back Marcel Shipp suffered a broken ankle early in training camp. Hambrick had been competing for a backup job with the Raiders, but was likely going to be released.

Hambrick could have competed for a job with the Cowboys this summer, but after the Cowboys used their first draft choice, a second-round pick, on Julius Jones, the fifth-year back angled for the release he finally received. He signed about a week later with the Raiders.

Hambrick backed up Smith for three years, and tired of the role at the end of the 2001 season and for most of Smith's record-breaking 2002 season. He even voiced his displeasure publicly, saying at some point the younger backs had to take over for the older backs.

And unless the 250-pound Hambrick shows the Cardinals something he didn't show the Raiders, that's probably still not going to happen.