The Sports Xchange

Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said Thursday that the team admonished defensive end Greg Hardy for his controversial comments about New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady’s wife and a reference to guns.

“Well, we just addressed it immediately,” Garrett said. “That’s not how we want to operate as an organization. Players and coaches in our organization understand that.

“We want to distinguish ourselves with our play, not with what we say. We define ourselves by what we do, not by what we say. Greg understands that now and that’s how we’re going … forward.”

Hardy created a stir Tuesday when he met with the media for the first time since signing with the Cowboys last March. Hardy’s remarks included comments about Brady’s wife, Gisele Bundchen.

Hardy was also criticized and admonished for a reference to guns while explaining his approach to Sunday’s game against the Patriots.

Also, linebacker Sean Lee practiced on a limited basis after missing Wednesday because of a concussion suffered last week against the New Orleans Saints. He is expected to play this week against New England.

–Matt Hasselbeck will start at quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday at Houston, ESPN reported.

The backup is pressed into action for the second consecutive game as Andrew Luck recovers from an injury to his throwing shoulder. Luck hurt his right shoulder in Week 3, according to the quarterback, but his performance to date was atypical and prompts doubt about the timing of the injury. Luck was dead last in passer rating (65.0) with five touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Hasselbeck, 40, guided the Colts to an overtime victory last week, beating Jacksonville on Adam Vinatieri’s field goal after the Jaguars missed a field goal attempt to start overtime.

–New England Patriots running back Dion Lewis signed a two-year contract extension through the 2017 season, according to published reports.

The deal is worth nearly $5 million and prevents Lewis from becoming an unrestricted free agent following the season.

“They gave me a chance and that’s all I can ask for,” Lewis told reporters. “They gave me a chance, so it’s for me to repay them as well. They showed a commitment to me and I just have to honor it and keep on going out there and making them right.”

–The Miami Dolphins fired defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle and replaced him with defensive backs coach Lou Anarumo, the team announced.

The firing of Coyle comes three days after Miami head coach Joe Philbin was fired. Dan Campbell was promoted from tight ends coach to interim coach earlier this week and made the decision to release Coyle.

Anarumo is in his fourth season with the Dolphins. He will be tasked with improving a defense that ranks 30th in total defense and last in rushing defense.

–San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks will miss Sunday’s game against the New York Giants due to the death of his sister, ESPN reported.

Brooks’ sister, Casandra, died Wednesday at the age of 40. She suffered with lupus, according to Greg Williams, the agent for Ahmad Brooks.

Brooks arrived in the New Orleans area Wednesday after his older sister had died. He is now grieving with family and he is expected to return to the team after next week’s funeral.

–Former NFL coach Lindy Infante died at the age of 75 on Thursday after a lengthy illness.

Infante’s death was due to a bout of pneumonia, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

The newspaper reported that Infante suffered four broken ribs in a recent fall at his home in Crescent Beach, Fla., and was hospitalized. He died in hospice care.

Infante coached the Green Bay Packers from 1988-91 and was the NFL Coach of the Year when the Packers went 10-6. He later coached the Indianapolis from 1996-67.

Infante’s career record as an NFL coach was 36-60.