A former Mississippi State player who worked with agents says Cecil Newton told him it would take anywhere from $100,000 to $180,000 for his son, Cam, to sign a scholarship with Mississippi State.

Kenny Rogers told ESPN radio in Dallas on Thursday that when he and Cecil Newton met with two MSU coaches at a hotel in Starkville, Miss., last Nov. 27, one of the coaches said, “No, no I don’t want to hear that,” when Cecil Newton asked about the payment for Cam Newton to attend Mississippi State.

Cam Newton eventually signed with Auburn, where the school says the quarterback is eligible to play. Newton is a leading Heisman Trophy contender and has the unbeaten Tigers in the hunt for the national championship. He’s expected to play Saturday against rival Georgia.

NFL

Jets organization doing push-ups

Florham Park, N.J. — The entire New York Jets organization is doing push-ups for penalties — from the players to the owner.

Coach Rex Ryan is making his players and coaches drop and give him 10 for each penalty they commit in practice in an effort to cut down on mental mistakes in games.

When the team hit the grass after a penalty Wednesday, owner Woody Johnson and general manager Mike Tannenbaum joined in. Johnson told Matt Higgins, the team’s executive vice president for business operations, that the entire organization should join for team unity.

Sterger meets with NFL

New York — The woman who allegedly received lewd photos and inappropriate text messages from Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre met with NFL investigators Thursday, her manager said.

Phil Reese said in an e-mail that Jenn Sterger met with league officials and “we cooperated fully by providing them with substantial materials in our possession. We now await the NFL’s decision.”

Browns LB released from hospital

Berea Ohio — Cleveland Browns linebacker Marcus Benard has been released from a hospital after collapsing in the locker room on Thursday.

Benard was sitting in a chair in front of his cubicle when he suddenly fell to the carpeted floor. Some of his teammates, who were getting dressed for practice, thought he may have been joking before linebacker Matt Roth yelled for a trainer.

In a statement, the Browns said he will undergo further evaluation on Friday.

MLB

Jeter: Meeting went well

New York — Derek Jeter’s grandmother has been joking that he doesn’t have a job.

“Really, it doesn’t feel like there’s anything different,” the New York Yankees captain said Thursday about becoming a free agent for the first time. “I understand there’s negotiations that are going to come and those sorts of things, but for me personally I don’t feel any different.”

Jeter and his agent, Casey Close, met with general manager Brian Cashman, managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner and team president Randy Levine on Monday in Tampa, Fla. Jeter said the meeting “set the framework” for contract negotiations and went well.

“It really wasn’t that big of a deal,” he said. “It wasn’t like meeting people for the first time. It really wasn’t that complicated.”

NBA

Spurs rookie out with fracture

San Antonio — Spurs rookie James Anderson has a stress fracture in his right foot that is expected to keep him out for two months.

Golf

Garcia in the mix in Australia

Melbourne, Australia — Sergio Garcia put himself into the mix today at the Australian Masters with his lowest score of the year, a 6-under 65 that left him in range of the leaders going into the weekend.

Kerr shoots tourney record

Guadalajara, Mexico — Cristie Kerr shot a tournament-record 8-under 64 to take a three-stroke lead over Stacy Lewis in the Lorena Ochoa Invitational, while Ochoa opened with a 74 on her home course in her first LPGA Tour start since retiring in April.

Stroud leads by 3 strokes

Lake Buena Vista, Fla. — Chris Stroud shot a 10-under 62 on Disney World’s Palm Course to take a three-stroke lead in the PGA Tour’s season-ending Children’s Miracle Network Classic.

Mickelson 4 strokes back

Singapore — Phil Mickelson opened with a 4-under 67 in the Singapore Open, leaving him four strokes behind clubhouse leaders Chris Wood and Kim Bi-o in the rain-soaked tournament.