Former Florida Gators linebacker Brandon Spikes avoided doing interviews for much of his career as a student-athlete with the University of Florida. Now a professional football player and member of the New England Patriots, the luxury of avoidance he experienced in Gainesville, FL, is no longer available.

Spikes opened up to the media Friday about a number of topics including the flack he received for his 5.05 40-yard dash, his excitement about being with one of the best franchises in the NFL, the criticism he faced over eye gouge-gate during the 2009 season and his comfort level in his new surroundings with fellow former Gators defensive end Jermaine Cunningham and tight end Aaron Hernandez by his side.

“I’ve got a little saying: It is what it is, but it ain’t what you think,” Spikes told reporters at Gillette Stadium. “That’s what happened. I feel like everything happens for a reason. I’m blessed to be here. Fortunately, the opportunity’s right here. I’ve just got to seize the moment. So I’m happy to be here. Great players, great organization, great teammates and winning tradition: That’s what I’m all about.”

His character and leadership shone through when he discussed his self-suspension after the Florida-Georgia game.

“I feel like a man, if you do something you should know your consequences,” he said. “I did it. I got caught, and I suspended myself. The reason I did that was I know little kids watch the game and when I was little, I watched linebackers [and] I tried to mold my game and I didn’t want little kids to think that’s how the game should be played. Emotion, big rivalry game, and it just happened. We were taking shots at each other. I did it. I got punished for it, and you move on from your mistakes.”

Spikes is hoping to earn a starting job on the inside in the Patriot’s 3-4 scheme alongside his former Southeastern Conference foe – Tennessee’s Jerod Mayo. He plans to hold this role while wearing his new number, 55, which was previously worn by both Willie McGinest and Junior Seau. No. 51 – his number with the Gators that is also worn by his cousin Takeo Spikes with San Francisco – belongs to Mayo.

“A lot of great linebackers wore [No. 55] and I just want to keep that tradition going, follow after those guys, and keep that legacy going,” Spikes said. “Big shoes; I like that. High expectations; that’s part of my game. I like the pressure.”

Though his number has changed, Spikes has been able to bring two pieces of Gainesville with him to Foxborough, MA.

“Fortunately [Cunningham and Hernandez] lived with me for a year and a half at Florida, so to see those guys, it felt like home again,” he said. “I’ve just been embracing those guys, putting a smile on my face and trying to get better.”

Photo Credit: David Silverman/New England Patriots

Tags: Aaron Hernandez, Brandon Spikes, Gillette Stadium, Jermaine Cunningham, Jerod Mayo, Junior Seau, New England Patriots, NFL, SEC, Takeo Spikes, University of Florida, Willie McGinest

1 » CBSSports.com pit two of their national columnists – Mike Freeman and Dennis Dodd – against each other on Friday. Their task, respectively, was to argue why the No. 1 Florida Gators or No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide would win the 2009 SEC Championship game. Freeman began with this: “There simply isn’t enough time to list every reason why Florida will beat Alabama in the SEC title game, so let’s just start with a few: Urban Meyer is a big-game coach and Nick Saban isn’t; super-virgin [senior quarterback] Tim Tebow; a faster defense; more depth and more speed overall.” He then focuses on Crimson Tide QB Greg McElroy, calling him “pedestrian” and explaining that the Gators’ defense will overwhelm the Alabama offense in every way.

2 » Dodd responds by calling Saban a “mad scientist” who will “create [a] way to beat the Gators.” He even admits that “it’s hard to pick against the Gators in this game.” Yet his entire argument rests on running back Mark Ingram rushing for 150 yards and winning the Heisman Trophy, kick returner Javier Arenas grabbing an interception and scoring a return touchdown (against a special teams that has barely allowed double-digit punt return yards the entire season) and Saban using revenge to fuel his team to victory.

3 » As part of his brand new television show, Sports Jobs with Junior Seau, the future Hall of Fame linebacker played the part of a reporter and followed around Sports Illustrated reporter Andy Staples during the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party in October. The story that Seau came up with? Gators senior middle linebacker Brandon Spikes is “a monster” and absolutely dominant on the field. More coverage from SI includes Stewart Mandel’s article focusing on the weight of expectations the Gators face, Andy Staples’ column about the absences of junior defensive end Carlos Dunlap and Alabama linebacker Dont’a Hightower and Corey McCartney’s three reasons why Florida will lose on Saturday.

4 » No. 13/17 Florida basketball hits the road Friday night for its first true road game of the season against the Jacksonville Dolphins at 7 p.m. at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. The game will air live on FOX Sports Florida.

Tags: Alabama Crimson Tide, Brandon Spikes, Carlos Dunlap, Dont'a Hightower, Greg McElroy, Heisman Trophy, Jacksonville Dolphins, Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, Javier Arenas, Junior Seau, Mark Ingram, Nick Saban, SEC Championship, Tim Tebow, Urban Meyer, World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party

1 » Florida Gators senior quarterback Tim Tebow broke two all-time Southeastern Conference records (rushing touchdowns, rushing yards by a QB), his team clinched the SEC Eastern division title and a berth in the SEC Championship game and the offense got back on track following a few sluggish outings.

2 » According to Tebow and senior middle linebacker Brandon Spikes, the two team leaders got into a “skirmish” at some point after the Mississippi State Bulldogs game last week. “Me and T’s friends, brothers. It wasn’t nothing,” Spikes said. “It was all positive. We came together me and him, got the team together and we kind of got things right.” Tebow admitted the story was true. “There was [an issue],” Tebow said. “A lot of turmoil this past week.”

3 » Head basketball coach Billy Donovan visited the Gators football team Thursday night to discuss the difficulties in defending a national title. Donovan told the team that sticking together through adversity was important. “He motivated us,” Tebow said. “He talked to a lot of the leaders on our team and really challenged us.”

4 » Kicker Caleb Sturgis may have nailed a game-winning field goal two weeks ago, but he has never been more impressive than he was in his performance Saturday against the Georgia Bulldogs. Sturgis hit a career- and Florida-Georgia series-long 56-yard field goal in the second quarter and followed it up with a 44-yard shot in the fourth. He also made all of his extra points. “I thought that was a big momentum-changer for us,” head coach Urban Meyer said of the 56-yarder.

5 » While plenty of praise was offered to Tebow, wide receiver Riley Cooper and the entire offensive performance on Saturday, New England Patriots linebacker Junior Seau, who was at the game acting as a member of the press, lauded the play of the Gators’ linebackers. “I told [Spikes] he has something you just can’t coach, that you’re born with it,” Seau said. “He has leadership, and (I told him) not to take any of it for granted. He has that skill that Tebow has on offense, which is allowing your actions, your words to grab other people around you so they can elevate their games.”

6 » Not all of Spikes’ actions were in good taste Saturday. Could a suspension be coming for him? Spikes, who was victimized with an eye poke and had his helmet ripped off twice during the game, obviously felt the need to get even and took out his aggression on running back Washaun Ealey. While he may have been wronged often during the game, retaliation is not acceptable. A suspension from playing in the Vanderbilt Commodores game next week is a possibility. However, if the SEC does not voice any particular displeasure, Meyer may simply punish Spikes in practice. [UPDATE:] Sunday morning, Meyer said Spikes is a “very emotional player, and if that’s the case I’ll have a very serious talk with him.”

Tags: Billy Donovan, Brandon Spikes, Caleb Sturgis, Georgia Bulldogs, Junior Seau, Mississippi State Bulldogs, New England Patriots, NFL, Riley Cooper, Tim Tebow, Urban Meyer, Vanderbilt Commodores, Washaun Ealey