Yes, guard Richie Incognito admits, he was a dirty player earlier in his career. But he insists that is no longer the case and disputed Texans defensive lineman Antonio Smith’s assertion to the contrary.

Incognito also denied Smith’s claim that he tried to break Smith’s ankle during Sunday’s game.

Smith, who had a sack and drew two holding calls against Incognito, told reporters afterward: “Everything that’s illegal that can be done on the football field, he does it. Mainly, he was hitting people after the play, sliding down on your leg grabbing your ankle and trying to twist [it] to break your ankle. And he was doing it right in front of the referees …

“There were so many times that I would have loved to just be like hockey. Drop the helmets off, drop the gloves, go fisticuffs. We’re men. Let’s go at it.”

Incognito, named the NFL’s dirtiest player in a 2009 Sporting News poll of 99 players, said Monday the dirty-player tag “has been a label that’s been with me since I was a younger player when, quite frankly, I did play dirty. It was my first couple years in St. Louis. I would go after guys in frustration.

“I wasn’t mature enough to handle the situations we were in. I think I’ve evolved as a person. Every so often there’s someone on the opposing defensive line that calls me a dirty player. I understand it.”

Incognito added that “I play a physical brand of football, and I get after people between the whistles. I do everything within my power to keep them off our running backs and the quarterback.

“Of course,” he added, “there is going to be some displeasure with it. There was a lot of whining going on out there. Obviously, the whining continued to the media after the game.”

This and that

• The Dolphins signed undrafted rookie Brian Tyms to their practice squad, which would leave three receivers on their eight-man practice roster unless they make a move with Chris Hogan or Jeff Fuller — who were not informed of any change in their status by late Monday afternoon.

Tyms, released by the 49ers in preseason, has an intriguing combination of size (6-3), speed (4.4 in the 40) and leaping ability (38.5-inch vertical jump). He caught 38 passes as a senior at Florida A&M last year.

• Defensive lineman Chas Alecxih, released by Miami on Aug. 31, tweeted that he is returning to the Dolphins, presumably for a practice squad role. The Dolphins must make at least one additional roster move Tuesday.

• Dolphins center Mike Pouncey, on Texans defensive end J.J. Watt claiming he picked up the Dolphins’ snap counts from Hard Knocks: “I think he’s full of [bleep]. There’s no way he got any clues off Hard Knocks.”

• Coach Joe Philbin said “you would like to get one or two more” sacks than Miami’s two Sunday (both by Randy Starks). Jared Odrick (58 snaps, two tackles) and rookie Olivier Vernon (18 snaps, one tackle) were credited for no quarterback hits or hurries. But rookie Derrick Shelby produced two quarterback hurries in his 13 snaps.

• Philbin declined to discuss the status of running back Daniel Thomas, who reportedly sustained a concussion Sunday. … Philbin praised receiver Legedu Naanee for an “excellent block” on Marcus Thigpen’s 72-yard punt return for a touchdown.

Miami Herald sportswriter Adam Beasley contributed to this report.