Q&A With Bengals' Renaissance Man Dhani Jones

Looking Ahead:

*It seems clear at this point that you will be the starting middle linebacker for the Bengals this year—was there ever any uncertainty about that?

*The Bengals recently acquired Rey Maualuga, Michael Johnson and Roy Williams, and defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer has the benefit of a year of experience under his belt—do you expect a harder-hitting, more aggressive defensive scheme from the Bengals this year?

*What are your thoughts on Marvin Lewis’s leadership and motivational abilities?

*You’ve said that you stay with the Bengals because “They let me be me and that’s the most important thing”—what exactly do you mean by that?

*The Bengals catch a lot of bad press for extracurricular criminal activities—how do you try to motivate your teammates to rise above that?

Looking Back:

*You’ve said that you chose to attend Michigan because you wanted to feel like you were on top of the world—is that ultimately how you felt in 1997 when you played on Michigan’s national championship squad?

*Take us back to the lessons you were forced to learn in 2000 when you were sidelined with a training camp knee injury after being drafted by the New York Giants—how did you keep your focus?

*What was the first thought that popped into your head on December 22, 2002 when you intercepted Peyton Manning on his home field in Indy?

*How hard was it to watch the final 1:55 from the sidelines of Superbowl XXXIX?

The Renaissance Man:

*What does being called a Renaissance Man mean to you?

*You first name means “thinking man” in Hindi, and your middle name, Makalani, means “skilled in writing” in Polynesian—since both of these concepts definitely apply to you, do you think your parents had a sixth sense about your future?

*Your Travel Channel show “Dhani Tackles The Globe” seems like an overwhelming sleeper hit—how excited are you to film a second season?

*You’re a fan of the Philadelphia Art Museum and the Rodin Museum in Philly—what about the Cincinnati Art Museum and the Cincinnati Contemporary Art Center?  Have you been pleasantly surprised about the cultural attractions in Cincinnati?

*You’ve played in New York City, Philadelphia, New Orleans, and Cincinnati—which city would make the most interesting subject for a travel show?

*Do you design all of the bow ties for the company you created, Five Star Bow Ties? Are you influenced by textiles and patterns that you see when you travel abroad?

*You’re an avid poet—any chance you could offer us some freestyle verse on your predictions and hopes for the Bengals 2009 season?