‘Targeting’ rule aims to protect all players

EX-NFL ref Gene Steratore is always worthy of our attention on CBS. Last weekend he noted that “targeting” rules are as much to protect the defender from neurological impairment as they are for the fellow who was targeted. It’s not to just punish, but to protect and reduce.

➤ Tom Cosentino, a St. John’s man who blended a warm, understated disposition with better-idea public relations acumen in service to the many sports he repped — and, by extension, readers of all local newspapers — died Tuesday of heart disease. He was just 59. “T.C.” was special.

➤ True or false: After just four years as Florida’s football coach, the school fired Dan Mullen and bought him out for a fat $8 million. False. The buyout was $12 million. World gone nuts? True.

➤ After Pittsburgh scored a TD on a broken-play pass from QB Kenny Pickett, ESPN analyst and ex-NFL linebacker Kirk Morrison had the perfect description: “Good parking lot football.” While no one asked me, Pickett, a 6-foot-3 Jersey kid, is the best pocket passer I’ve seen this season.

➤ MLB lockout? The same past rooting interests for fans apply as in any sports’ labor issues: Fans should have no rooting interest in either party. Again, there’s nothing in either side’s position that would benefit the lifeblood of all sports, their fans. ➤ Finally, as a columnist, I need your help: Why does “columnist” include an “n”?