Since you appear to have a level perspective on this, I'll address this one to you. :-) This from another commercial pilot on Avsig:
"Ok, here's my put. The engine guys will have sorted out whether an engine was failed and by what circumstance by noon tomorrow. The aircraft structures guys are going to have a bigger job sorting out possible aerodynamic wing damage (e.g. El AL)and the Systems guys an even bigger job to sort out the hydraulics and backups to control surfaces.
Seeing the Vertical stab without visible damage really caught me by surprise. I noted that the rudders were missing as well. I guess I'll have to wait for the Public Hearing for that explanation.
The first thing I would go for is the condition of the fan rub strips and blade tips (tells a lot about gyro loading and running vs failed engines).
The engine shown at the gas station sure had a good looking nose spinner which had to be attached to a good fan disk.
The CF6 80 C2 sure has lots of experience and nothing even remotely close to such an outcome, so I'm sure that we we'll get some surprises here.
Look for tomorrow night's NTSB briefing to close down the speculations a good bit as they report what the engines and nacelles look like.
FYI...
Read this, its a story about a CF6 80 C2 that want kablooie. NTSB report