INDIANAPOLIS – 
Spikes prepared lamb chops in cabernet mint glaze with apple compote and asparagus with pancetta parmesan. Buddy Valastro of “Cake Boss” judged the food and selected Spikes’ dish over ones produced by Buffalo’s George Wilson and Cleveland’s Josh Cribbs.
Check out Spikes’ recipe and a photo of the dish here.
During the show’s introduction, Spikes argued he should win because his recipe included a higher degree of difficulty than Wilson’s “pechuga,” Spanish for chicken breast. Spikes also admitted he didn’t know Cribbs’ dish yet, but expressed certainty it wouldn’t be as challenging to make.
According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, Spikes’ 9-year-old daughter told him, “Dad, I hope you don’t burn the place down” before the competition and his mom wondered if not teaching Spikes to cook would doom the 14-year linebacker.
“I’m going to go on Rachel Ray’s TV show to cook and do my best to try and win,” Spikes said before the show aired. “It’s a great competition so I have to try and show everybody what I can do.”
Spikes, a media favorite and likely a future analyst, has toured radio row in Indianapolis, one of the most entertaining places of Super Bowl week.
An assortment of Hall of Famers, players, coaches, analysts, celebrities and other outrageous personalities flock to the broadcast media headquarters every Super Bowl. Spikes joined the ruckus Thursday.
“As a player, if you’re ever in a down mood, come to radio row because everybody will make you feel like you’re wanted,” Spikes said.
Spikes hit various radio stations along with a spot on NBC where he stopped by and chatted with former Chargers quarterback, Doug Flutie.
“I like the rapid-fire questions and talking football,” Spikes said of the multiple interviews that come with touring radio row. “For me it’s therapy and I love it.
“The highlight of the day was probably wearing my man Vic the Brick’s white hat up at Fox Sports radio. He’s a renaissance man and really believes it and you’ve got to appreciate that about him.”
Spikes also has a rooting interest in the Super Bowl on Sunday. His first cousin, New England Patriots linebacker Brandon Spikes, will be playing in his first Super Bowl.
“I feel like he’s going to have a good game,” Spikes said of his cousin. “He played well against them (the New York Giants) in the regular season.”
