The PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS by way of PRO FOOTBALL TALK projects the sad news that 21 employees of NFL Films have been shown the door.

President Steve Sabol delivered the awful announcement personally to the pushed-out workers last week, with some of those let go having been with the company for decades. Sabol said it was “one of the most difficult things I’ve ever had to do. These people were like family.”

After 40 years of cinematic service to the National Football League, what caused the company to start trimming more than just editing reels?

Sabol admitted that a big factor was HBO canceling “Inside The NFL”, as the week-in-review show - featuring highlights made by NFL Films - had actually brought in about $5 million in revenue.

And an unnamed league GM also claimed that the cable calamities of the NFL Network - another broadcaster of NFL Films material - was also a cause for the cutting of staff.

However, league spokesman Brian McCarthy (what, no Greg Aiello?) disagreed that the NFL Network’s problems had anything to do with the terminations, instead preferring the corporate-speak of “organizational re-evaluation”.

Either way, 21 people are now out of a job. If only John Facenda was still alive to narrate their fond farewell.