NASHVILLE (AP) — The Vanderbilt Commodores knew they’d be able to pass when Jay Cutler returned for his senior season instead of leaving for the NFL. Now they have a running game to match. Cutler threw for 314 yards in helping Vanderbilt beat Mississippi 31-23 Saturday and improved to 3-0 for the first time since…

IRVING, Texas (AP) — Joe Gibbs understands what “Redskins vs. Cowboys” used to mean as well as anyone. He also realizes that Dallas winning 14 of the last 15 games has taken away much of the meaning. “In order to have a great rivalry, both teams have to be winning some games. Lately against Dallas,…

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — With an unprecedented nationwide disaster relief effort as a backdrop, the New York Giants and New Orleans Saints meet Monday night in a game that could provide a huge boost to the winner. The Giants have not opened with two straight wins since 2000, the year they reached the Super…

By BARRY WILNER / AP Football Writer The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 2-0 thanks to their defense. No surprise there. The theme is the same for the Indianapolis Colts, if you can believe it. For the second straight week, Tony Dungy’s high-scoring team didn’t get many points. Once again, though, the defense was decisive in…

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee Titans defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch has come a long way. The 34th pick of the 2001 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals nearly matched his career sack total of five in the Titans’ 25-10 win Sunday over the Baltimore Ravens. The 6-foot-4, 278-pound end out of Nebraska sacked Baltimore quarterback…

By TERESA M. WALKER / AP Sports Writer NASHVILLE — Tennessee Titans linebacker Keith Bulluck was so elated over teammate Brad Kassell’s interception return for a touchdown that he grabbed the first football he saw and punted it into the stands. Oops. That was the ball Kassell wanted for his trophy cabinet. “If he has…

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — A bill that would require parental permission for students to join school clubs or other extracurricular activities will resurface in the Georgia Legislature next year and could threaten gay clubs around the state. State Rep. Bobby Reese, R-Sugar Hill, will push his version of the bill, which died in committee during…

BEIJING (AP) — North Korea on Monday agreed to stop building nuclear weapons and allow international inspections in exchange for energy aid, economic cooperation and security assurances, in a first step toward disarmament after two years of six-nation talks. The chief U.S. envoy to the talks praised the breakthrough as a “win-win situation” and “good…

WASHINGTON (AP) — Conflicting economic risks that could emerge from Hurricane Katrina are putting Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan and his central bank colleagues in a challenging spot. Fallout from the disaster is expected to slow economic growth over the rest of the year, perhaps persuading the Fed to suspend its campaign of raising interest…

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Jim Brown started doing aerobics, running and lifting weights two years ago to lose weight. Now his employer is giving him another reason to stay in shape and eat right: Money. Worthington Industries Inc. last year began requiring workers to take responsibility for their health — by taking medication to help…