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ESPN is continuing its latest round of layoffs this week, with the network letting go of broadcaster Karl Ravech, according to a report from The Athletic.Ravech has been at ESPN since 1993 and was the lead play-by-play voice for its baseball coverage. Ravech called the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies on Monday, July 20.The 61-year-old Ravech has also called college basketball and anchored SportsCenter during his tenure with ESPN. According to The Athletic, Ravech had not been told of his impending job status when contacted by the website.Ravech is just one of those laid off, as NFL analyst Ryan Clark was also sent packing. Clark, a former NFL safety, also worked on Monday during an appearance for "NFL Live" and was told midway through the broadcast that his services were no longer needed.The Athletic reports that the network planned to lay off Clark on July 21. That timetable was pushed up as the network wanted him to hear the news in person rather than read it online.“Over the past several months, we’ve made significant progress integrating the NFL assets that we acquired into ESPN,” Chairman Jimmy Pitaro wrote in a memo to the company. “Throughout this process, we have taken the time to carefully evaluate our collective teams, resources and organizational structure to best position us for the future. As a result, we had to make some difficult decisions about job impacts that we will be communicating today.”Pitaro’s memo continued, “While most of the job impacts are tied to the acquisition, we will also notify colleagues in other parts of the company today that their positions have been impacted. We are committed to treating employees with compassion and respect and to providing support as they navigate this transition.”David Lloyd, Stephania Bell also among ESPN layoffs, per reportOthers in the ESPN stable expected to be let go, according to Front Office Sports, are SportsCenter anchor David Lloyd, who joined the network in 1997, and injury expert/fantasy analyst Stephania Bell. Bell, who is a licensed physical therapist, was a featured player in ESPN’s fantasy football coverage. Both Lloyd's and Bell's profiles at ESPN have already been taken off the company's website.NFL Network expected to see cutsThe NFL Network, which was purchased by ESPN earlier this year, is also expected to lose key contributors. NFL insider Tom Pelissero is also expected to be laid off, according to The Athletic.ESPN still has NFL news-breakers Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport on the roster. That deal with ESPN also gave the NFL a 10% stake in the Bristol, Connecticut-headquartered network.Charles Davis, who has been part of the NFL draft coverage for NFL Network, was also let go. Davis is still at CBS Sports, where he will be the top college football analyst this season.
