Earl Thomas, the Seahawks' second-year safety, talked about playing the saxophone, his Yorkie named Hawk and much more in a live chat Thursday with readers.

Q: Have you seen a different level of respect for the defense this year as opposed to last year?

Thomas: Definitely. I just feel like everybody's on the same page. Although the games might not always show it, we're still improving as a 'D' every game.

Q: Pete Carroll is totally positive to the press, but has ever chewed you out?

Thomas: He chews me out every meeting.

Q: We need to come up with a good nickname for you. Any ideas?

Thomas: People on the team already call me Deuce. It comes from Gus (Bradley), the defensive coordinator. He wanted to name his son Deuce, so he tried it out on me.

Everybody calls me Deuce.

Q: Seems like you and Kam Chancellor are close. How does that translate on the field?

Thomas: He's probably my best friend on the team. We've had chemistry, probably since Day 1, because we've been roommates. I know how to push his buttons.

Q: How fast are you exactly?

Thomas: Unofficial time, I had about a 4.38 40-yard dash.

Q: Do you see yourself as the leader of the defense this year?

Thomas: I definitely see myself as a leader. I'm not really a rowdy guy. I try to be a leader just by my play on the field and hope that guys catch on to that.

Q: You seem like a pretty intense person in interviews. What do you do for fun?

Thomas: I like to bowl, sit on the couch and just chill.

Everybody always says that I've got a frown on my face. I grew up like that. My mom even said.

Q: Are you working on graduating?

Thomas: My major was education, and I minored in music. And my mom keeps pounding it into me every day. So I intend to.

I wanted to coach and be a history teacher in high school. The reason I say history is because I'm horrible in math.

Q: What instrument(s) do you play? Can you sing?

Thomas: I play the tenor sax, the drums and the piano. I've got a little music room in my house. I don't sing.

Q: Do you have any pets?

Thomas: I have three dogs. I have a Yorkie, cocker spaniel and a Maltese. They're at the house.

The Yorkie is named Hawk. He's aggressive. He thinks he owns Lake Washington.