​Our exploration of the NFC South All-Decade Team for the 2000s is complete, focusing on the best safeties who patrolled the division from 2002 through 2009. It was a competitive pool: only one New Orleans Saints safety made the cut, while both the Carolina Panthers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were represented. The Atlanta Falcons, by contrast, did not have a safety selected for the team. Perhaps the Falcons will have better luck when the 2010s All-Decade Team is announced. But for now, let’s dive in.
A core stat we rely on is Approximate Value (AV) from Pro Football Reference, which they describe as “an attempt to put a single number on the seasonal value of a player at any position from any year.” In practical terms, higher AV goes to players who start more games, participate in more snaps, and contribute more to their team’s success by accumulating yards, scoring touchdowns, forcing turnovers, and pressuring the quarterback, among other factors. In addition, we assign point values for postseason honors: first-team All-Pro is worth ten points, second-team All-Pro five points, and a Pro Bowl selection three points. We then sum these figures to arrive at a comprehensive score for each player.
Keep in mind that these are all-decade teams limited to the NFC South, which only existed starting in 2002, and only the contributions of players from the four division teams are included in the calculation. So, for example, Drew Brees earning a Pro Bowl nod with the San Diego Chargers in 2005 wouldn’t count toward an NFC South safeties’ score.
Carolina Panthers (2002 to 2006)
AV: 36
Honors: N/A
Score: 36
Mike Minter was an established starter for Carolina even before the NFC South was formed in 2002, having appeared in 68 games over his first five seasons. He continued to play a pivotal role for the Panthers during the next five years, never missing a single regular-season start in 80 games and appearing in seven playoff games. Minter’s presence helped limit big plays down the field while contributing multiple tackles for loss and several takeaways in three of those five years within the new division. Under his guidance, Carolina’s pass defense remained solid, with its ranking outside the top-10 just once when Minter was deployed deep in coverage.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2002 to 2009)
AV: 33
Honors: N/A
Score: 33
Jermaine Phillips didn’t crack the starting lineup immediately after the Buccaneers parted ways with John Lynch, but he established himself as a dependable safety presence by appearing in 101 games combined between the regular season and the postseason. That durability, along with his steady production, helped his case. A former fifth-round pick, Phillips reached a peak season with more than 100 tackles and nine passes defensed in 2009, illustrating his continued value to the defense over his tenure with the team.