By MAC ENGEL

Many months have passed and millions of dollars have been spent since Tony Romo’s fourth-down pass was intercepted by the Giants’ R.W. McQuarters in the end zone, ending the Cowboys’ 2007 season in disappointment. The painful wait to prove the playoff loss was a fluke is almost over. The Cowboys return to training camp Thursday to begin the last season at Texas Stadium. Despite last season’s regular-season success and the guarded enthusiasm surrounding this year’s team, there are still plenty of questions. Here are five things to keep an eye on as the Cowboys open training camp in Oxnard, Calif.

1Camp Cupcake II: Coach Wade Phillips’ first training camp resulted in a 13-3 season, but increased expectations. In order for Phillips to feel better about his job security, he needs to lead the Cowboys to their first playoff win since 1996. There are plenty of in-house candidates who could succeed him, including a certain red-headed assistant who is already paid like a head coach.

2Marion is The Man: Marion Barber will be his team’s no-doubt-about-it starting running back for the first time since he was in high school. With Felix Jones backing him up, Barber will not be a 25-carry-a-game back, but he is No. 1. The Cowboys gave him starting running back money

in the off-season and will rely on him to produce like one.

3Nickel back Roy Williams: The last time the Cowboys were in Oxnard for training camp they gave Williams an extension with an $11 million signing bonus. Two years later, he’s at a crossroads, and no one is quite sure what’s going to happen to the league’s most maligned Pro Bowl player.

4Terry Glenn, Chapter 3,453: This story will have a conclusion this week. Promise. Jerry Jones is dealing directly with Glenn and his agent to find a middle ground so the receiver can play with the Cowboys this season. Glenn basically missed all of last season because of knee injuries but wants to play this season. Considering receiver is the thinnest position on the roster, the Cowboys may need him.

5A lion, a clown car and the bearded lady: The circus has indeed returned to training camp. The ego-driven days of Bill Parcells have been overrun by the cameras of HBO’s Hard Knocks and "characters" such as Terrell Owens, Tony Romo, Adam Jones and Tank Johnson. BTW: The first episode airs Aug. 6. Training camp preview, 8C