TAMPA, Fla. -- We’ve talked about the strength of the NFC South in various forms before. But we’re going to do it again.

I’m working out of One Buccaneer Place today and the Buccaneers' public relations department included some good stats about the NFC South in their latest release. I’m also going to send a copy of this to my buddy, Matt “The Beast’’ Mosley.

Anyway, since division realignment in 2002, the NFC South has sent three teams to the Super Bowl. The AFC East is the only other division that can say that. Mosley’s guys have only been to two Super Bowls. Same for the AFC South, AFC North and NFC West. The AFC West and NFC North have only been there once.

In that same time frame, the NFC South has had six appearances in the conference championship game. For comparison’s sake, the collective “beasts’’ have been there five times. The AFC East and AFC North have been to four championship games. The AFC South, AFC West and NFC North have been to three. The NFC West has been represented twice.

One other note on the NFC South: It is one of only two divisions in the NFC and one of only three in the entire NFL to have every team win the division at least once (since division realignment in 2002). Tampa Bay’s won the division three times. Carolina and New Orleans each have won it twice. Atlanta’s won the division once.