NFC South All-Decade Team of the 2000s: Which specialists stand apart?

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NFC South All-Decade Team of the 2000s: Which specialists stand apart?

Jeremy Trottier, Saints Wire · Saints Wire

Mon, Jul 6, 2026 ·

5 min read

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We're shifting gears in our series on the NFC South All-Decade Team of the 2000s, going from offense to defense -- but first we're highlighting some of the best specialists who competed in the early days of the division. It was the Carolina Panthers setting the standard for the rest of the division, but both the New Orleans Saints and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers earned appearances on this list. Maybe the Atlanta Falcons can do their part in the next decade.

Methodology

One key stat we're relying on is Approximate Value from Pro Football Reference , which PFR defines as "an attempt to put a single number on the seasonal value of a player at any position from any year." In practice, that means giving higher numbers to player who start more games, play more snaps, and do more to help their team win by racking up yards, scoring touchdowns, creating turnovers and sacking quarterbacks, and so on. We're also assigning point values to being named a first-team All-Pro (ten points), second-team All-Pro (five points), and Pro Bowler (three points). And then we're adding those numbers together. Remember, these are all-decade teams for the NFC South, which didn't exist until 2002, and only contributions on the four teams in the division factor into our formula. So Drew Brees earning a Pro Bowl nod with the San Diego Chargers in 2005 doesn't help him, for example.

First team punter: Todd Sauerbrun

CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 12: Punter Todd Sauerbrun #10 of the Carolina Panthers kicks the ball against the St. Louis Rams during the game at Bank of America Stadium on December 12, 2004 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Panthers won 20-7. (Photo by Craig Jones/Getty Images)

Team: Carolina Panthers (2002 to 2004)
AV: 10
Honors: All-Pro first team (1), All-Pro second team (1), Pro Bowler (2)
Score: 31

When it comes to special teams players in the NFC South, the discussions usually center around the players who have remained there the longest. That being said, Todd Sauerbrun was an exception to the rule, as one of the best punters during his time period; only four years in the NFC South were enough to cement his legacy. A 13-year NFL veteran, he spent 2001 to 2004 with the Carolina Panthers, and in three of them made an All-Pro team, two of which were included in our post-2002 calculations. His most successful seasons came with the Panthers during this short stint, leading the league in punt yards and yards per attempt in 2001 and 2002, hitting right around 30% or higher in yards downed inside the 20-yard line as well. One of the best to ever do it, and despite a shorter NFC South stint, the best from his era in many regards.

First team kicker: John Kasay

Sep 28, 2008; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Maake Kemoeatu (99) congratulates kicker John Kasay (4) after his field goal against the Atlanta Falcons at Bank of America Stadium. The Panthers defeated the Falcons 24-9. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Team: Carolina Panthers (2002 to 2009)
AV: 26
Honors: N/A
Score: 26

John Kasay is a completely different story from the first two members of this list, as a 20-year NFL veteran who spent 16 of those seasons in the NFC South, primarily for the Carolina Panthers, with one New Orleans Saints year thrown in at the end of his career in 2011. He did end up with a Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro to his name, both prior to the 2002 mark in 1996. Over 221 career games with Carolina, he made 351 out of 424 field goal attempts (82.8%) along with 429 of 439 extra point attempts (97.9%). Kasay was one of the most reliable long-term kickers in NFL history, and after one final quality year with the Saints in 2011, he wrapped up his illustrious career near the top of the all-time scoring list, currently No. 9 with 1,970 points to his name.

Second team punter: Josh Bidwell

TAMPA, FL - DECEMBER 30: Punter Josh Bidwell #9 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sets for a kick against the Carolina Panthers at Raymond James Stadium on December 30, 2007 in Tampa, Florida. The Panthers won 31 - 23. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2004 to 2008)
AV: 13
Honors: All-Pro second team (1), Pro Bowler (1)
Score: 21

Josh Bidwell was a similar story to that of Sauerbrun, a punter who spent only a few years in the NFC South, but had the best of his career seasons there. A 10-year starter, Bidwell spent five years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, earning one second-team All-Pro appearance with a Pro Bowl selection in 2005, posting 4,101 yards and 37.5 net yards per punt on average. In Tampa Bay, he accrued 18,426 total punt yards, with a low 10.5% rate of touchbacks during that span. One of the more reliable punters of the 2000s, Bidwell certainly earned the right to be here.

Second team kicker: John Carney

Oct. 15, 2006; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints' kicker (3) John Carney celebrates with teammates after kicking a 31-yard game winning field goal on the last play of the Philadelphia Eagles at New Orleans Saints game at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, LA. The Saints defeated the Eagles 27-24. Mandatory Credit: Matt Stamey-USA TODAY Sports Copyright Matt Stamey

Team: New Orleans Saints (2002 to 2006, 2009)
AV: 18
Honors: N/A
Score: 18

Another member of that top 10 all-time scoring club is John Carney, currently No. 5 overall with 2,062 career points scored. After 23 years of kicking in the NFL, Carney solidified himself as one of the best to ever do it, and 10 of those seasons ended up being in the NFC South. Unfortunately, both of his Pro Bowl and All-Pro appearances were outside his NFC South reign, but he still put up an exceptional amount of production, with 22 total AV to his name in those 10 years, making 170 of his 208 field goal attempts (81.7%) and 270 of his 274 extra point attempts (98.5%). While mostly known for his years as a San Diego Charger, his legacy for the Saints will not be forgotten whatsoever, as he brought stability to one of the most difficult positions over eight seasons.