Odd opening to the Bucs-Panthers broadcast yesterday.

FOX play-by-play man Kevin Kugler revealed that Bucs offensive coordinator Zac Robinson told him Baker Mayfield and his healing thumb were floating throws in practice last week — specifically throws going from right to left.

The information was shared by Robinson when he met Kugler and game analyst Moose Johnston for a broadcast production meeting, Joe presumes.

A day or so prior to a game, the assigned FOX crew meets with key coaches and players to talk about their team and its approach in great detail. That preps broadcasters so they sound smart and extra insightful on the air. It’s not just FOX. That applies to every network.

Information shared in those meetings is often off the record, aka confidential and not to be shared. Some intel offered can be shared on the air but not before a game, meaning Moose Johnston can’t hop on social media 20 hours before kickoff and say, “Todd Bowles just told us X and Y,” for example.

So Joe heard Kugler reveal Mayfield’s throwing issues in practice and immediately wondered who on the Panthers would hear that information and get it to Panthers coaches. That was highly valuable information.

Did Kugler break a confidence? Did Robinson talk too much and not realize what he said?

Ironically, Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht told the official team radio pregame show that Mayfield was “sharp” all week in practice and looked “very, very good.”