By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Takeo Spikes could complain. The Bengals linebacker could complain about this season's 1-10 record contributing to his 18-57 career mark.

He could complain the Bengals don't have a climate-controlled practice bubble, like most NFL teams, in cold weather.

But, on this Thanksgiving, Spikes chooses to be appreciative for all that he does have and vows to continue acting on his gratitude.

"I know I'm truly blessed to be in the position I'm at right now," Spikes said. "I can pay my bills every month."

He tries to give of his time. He has taken on more personal appearances to give motivational speeches to young people.

"I try to get into somebody's head and influence them to do what is right," Spikes said. "You hear it all the time: 'If I could just get one soul, one person.' I feel like I can get more than one every time."

Spikes recently judged an essay contest at an elementary school in Silverton. The topic: role models.

His role model, as a young child, was former Bears running back Walter Payton. As a high school student, Spikes had matured to the point of realizing that his mother and father - Lillie and the late Jimmie Spikes - were all the role models he needed.

Spikes, who will turn 26 next month, was reminded of his childhood when he read one essay. A child no more than 9 wrote that his role model was his mother and that he had not realized, when he was younger, everything that she did for him.

"He didn't understand what his mom meant by 'Don't hang with this person and that person; always try to do the right thing,' but he said that he understood it now," Spikes said. "He said, 'I always try to do what she says and never want to let her down.'

"I was like, 'Wow, dawg, that's big.'

"I get a lot back by being out there with people. I try to give of myself, but when you're out there, you get a lot back."

And for that, Spikes is thankful, too.

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