The long-rumored mass layoffs at ESPN may begin next week, and they may be larger than expected. From Matt Bonesteel at the Washington Post:

The job cuts, which will come from the network’s sizable stable of on-air and online talent, have long been expected as ESPN looks to pare expenses in the wake of mounting subscriber losses and rising rights fees. Over the past five years, the network has lost somewhere around 12 million subscribers while shelling out billions for the right to televise leagues such as the NFL and NBA.

Former Bawmann Group VPs Maggie Spain, Tammy Stratton and Jennifer Nuhfer have formed Spearca Communications, a full-service, woman-owned strategic marketing and communications agency. Spearca, which means “spark” in Old English, offers communications, marketing & advertising, and digital marketing services.

Are the Cleveland Police Department and the city’s CBS affiliate conspiring to hide the identity of a projected first-round NFL prospect accused of sexual assault so his draft status won’t be hurt? It would seem so. Barry Petchesky reports:

A player who is expected to go in the first round of Thursday’s NFL draft has been accused of sexual assault, according to Cleveland 19 News. But this is a weird one: The station is not naming the player, despite having a statement from his attorney, because the cops are dragging their feet on filing a police report.

UPDATE: TMZ has learned the name of the football player, and not surprisingly he is a local star.