Saints bring back Cundiff to handle kickoff duties

METAIRIE, La. -- The New Orleans Saints brought back kickoff specialist Billy Cundiff on Tuesday for the playoffs.

Cundiff initially was signed before the Saints' victory at Atlanta on Nov. 26 and handled kickoffs through Week 16.

He was waived during the final week of the regular season as part of a move to bring in offensive or defensive reserves who spelled starters in New Orleans' regular season finale - a game with no playoff implications as the Saints already had clinched the No. 2 seed in the NFC.

Veteran kicker John Carney has handled field goals throughout the season, but Cundiff gave the Saints better height and distance on kickoffs, something Saints coach Sean Payton believed was needed to win field position battles.

New Orleans also officially reactivated Hollis Thomas, a move that had been expected since he finished serving a four-game suspension on Jan. 1.

Thomas, the Saints' starting defensive tackle for the first 12 games of the regular season, has been practicing with the team since his suspension ended.

To make room for Cundiff and Thomas on the 53-player active roster, the Saints placed longtime special teams veteran Fred McAfee on injured reserve, ending McAfee's season. They also waived defensive end Trevor Johnson, whose only action was in the regular-season finale against Carolina.