Ed Werder announces he was let go from ESPN 1/2 hour after announcing his dog is dying

Anticipated company talent layoffs begin to trickle out.

News that the Worldwide Leader was slated to make massive layoffs was prevalent all week, and certainly coming to a head over the past several months.

The Sporting News reported yesterday that a “bloodbath” was imminent. On the eve of the NFL Draft spectacle, reporters are starting to drop and join the likes of Titans beat writer Paul Kuharshy who tweeted Monday of his departure.

While originally thought to be around 70 folks, SI’s Richard Deitsch reported today that that number appears to be closer to 100.

While the news must be disheartening to all involved (albeit likely not surprising), no one appears to have a rougher day than veteran NFL reporter and mustache aficionado Ed Werder. This morning, Werder tweeted the following within a 34-minute span:

Talk about kicking a man while he’s down.

Here is ESPN president John Skipper’s justification per Fox News:

"“Dynamic change demands an increased focus on versatility and value, and as a result, we have been engaged in the challenging process of determining the talent—anchors, analysts, reporters, writers and those who handle play-by-play—necessary to meet those demands. We will implement changes in our talent lineup this week. A limited number of other positions will also be affected and a handful of new jobs will be posted to fill various needs…These decisions impact talented people who have done great work for our company. I would like to thank all of them for their efforts and their many contributions to ESPN.”"

Buckle up.

Thoughts and prayers.