Derrick Brooks, a former Florida State linebacker, eventual NFL Hall Of Famer, and former Florida State trustee said today on Yahoo! sports radio with Tim Brando that as far as he knows, the Big XII actually approached Florida State, and not the other way around. That is contrary to the popular belief of many fans. Here is the tweet by one of the radio show's producers.

Audio: Derrick Brooks on The @timbrando Show saying the Big 12 approached Florida St, not the other way around.yahoosportsradio.com/?p=24111

— Patrick Netherton (@PTNetherton) May 16, 2012

This is, to say the least, a bombshell. Both the Big XII and Florida State have denied that any talks have taken place. Brooks is the first representative (former trustee) to go on the record and say that talks have been taking place.

Informed observers believed that talks have been taking place, though both sides would deny it to avoid tampering/contractual interference issues. That might be more difficult after Brooks' statement

Rule No. 1 about Sunshine Laws. Don't have a former University Trustee go on national radio and talk about skirting them.

— Ira Schoffel (@IraSchoffel) May 16, 2012

Would love to sit in on the meetings where the ACC deliberates suing the Big 12 now.

— Mark Ennis (@Mengus22) May 16, 2012

Of course, Brooks is a former trustee and couched his statement in the "my understanding" language, which would make a claim much tougher.

Brooks statements come on the heels of Florida State's BOT chair saying that FSU needs to look elsewhere, including the Big XII, and Florida State's president, Eric Barron, saying that Florida State is quite happy in the ACC.

Florida State is by far the most valuable program in the ACC, and a potential move to the Big XII could give Florida State up to 50 percent more TV revenue annually.

Thoughts?