Steve Spurrier says he coaches the same way whether the opponent is Central Michigan or the San Francisco 49ers.

The coach whose career at the University of Florida was marked by huge victories against inferior opponents, was responding Tuesday to comments by 49ers coach Steve Mariucci. Mariucci suggested Monday that Washington was playing starters against his scrubs in its 38-7 win against San Francisco in Osaka, Japan.

Denver Broncos cornerback Sam Young, front, blocks a pass to Rod Smith during morning practice at Broncos training camp Tuesday in Greeley, Colo.

“Supposedly, we had a lot to prove against the Niners, and they didn’t have much to go for, so that was the reason we got them pretty good,” Spurrier said.

The Redskins never quit throwing in the American Bowl, including a fourth-and-1 post pattern to the end zone for a 31-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Most of the Redskins’ premier starters including Stephen Davis and the entire first-team defense did not play after the first quarter. The starting offensive line returned briefly in the second half when Danny Wuerffel entered the game, giving him a fair shot in the team’s three-way quarterback competition.

While Spurrier was exposing his playbook, Mariucci ran a bland offense and used the game primarily to evaluate fringe players. That’s the way most coaches would handle an exhibition opener, and Spurrier said he understood that.

The teams meet in San Francisco in the third week of the regular season.

Falcons

Quarterback Michael Vick was back throwing passes, showing no signs of a sore left shoulder.

Vick tweaked the shoulder during a passing drill Monday morning. It was wrapped in ice, and he didn’t throw during the afternoon workout. But Vick was back in his normal routine, zipping throws during a two-hour practice.

“It felt great,” he said. “I could have had a better day throwing the football, but the shoulder didn’t bother me too much.”

Vick, the No. 1 overall pick in 2001, is going into his first season as an NFL starter. He spent most of his rookie season on the bench, but the Falcons cut Chris Chandler during the offseason.

Ravens

Owner Art Modell made his first appearance at training camp after missing the first week-and-a-half because of health problems and the heat and humidity at McDaniel College in Westminster, Md.

“Forty-two years in this business, and it’s the first training camp opening I’ve missed,” said Modell, who turned 77 in June and is entering his 42nd year in football. “But I’ve done 40 laps around the field and I’m ready to go.”

Rookie defensive end Anthony Weaver, already penciled in as a starter, will miss a week of practice with a right ankle sprain.

Broncos

Rob Moore, who was entering his 13th NFL season, was released by Denver. He had been signed in March after being released by Arizona after two seasons plagued by injuries.

He missed 2000 with a knee injury, and missed 2001 with a torn hamstring. He was signed last spring by the Broncos.

Rookie wide receiver Ashley Lelie returned to practice after missing a week with a strained hamstring.

The first-round draft pick ran nearly at full speed in most of the drills and said he didn’t feel any pain. He expects to play when the Broncos open the preseason Saturday against Chicago.

Chargers

Linebacker Junior Seau dodged a serious injury after getting his cleats caught in the grass and twisting his left knee during a drill.

Seau, an 11-time Pro Bowler, was covering wide receiver Patrick Batteaux on the play. He left the field on a cart with trainer James Collins supporting his knee. But later, Seau said he was OK.

The 6-foot-3, 255-pound Seau is listed as day-to-day and expects to return in two or three days.

Panthers

Coach John Fox ended morning’s practice early after a fight involving three players.

Fox grew agitated when offensive lineman T.J. Washington got into a scuffle with defensive linemen Mike Rucker and Brentson Buckner about 30 minutes before morning practice was to end.

After teammates broke up the scuffle, Fox called the players into a huddle, chewed them out and dismissed them until the afternoon session.

Packers

Coach Mike Sherman kept quarterback Brett Favre out of both practices as the team prepared for Saturday’s preseason opener at Philadelphia.

Sherman employed a similar regimen a year ago. Sherman and offensive coordinator Tom Rossley reined in Favre for a day a couple weeks into the preseason to help ensure his prized right arm wouldn’t give out.

Favre had elbow tendinitis after throwing too much at the 2000 training camp. He subsequently missed the final three preseason games and played with discomfort for most of the regular season.

Vikings

Pro Bowl center Matt Birk said he’s willing to switch to left tackle if first-round draft pick Bryant McKinnie continues his extended holdout.

Birk played tackle at Harvard and in his first two seasons with the Vikings before switching to center in 2000. If coach Mike Tice moves him to left tackle and McKinnie reports, Birk would move back to center when McKinnie was ready to start.

49ers

Defensive tackle John Schlecht, who has missed all of training camp with a lower back problem, could be ready to return to practice before the team leaves Stockton next week, Mariucci said.

Pro Bowl center Jeremy Newberry, who strained a calf muscle on the second day of camp and hasn’t practiced since, could be out another two weeks before he returns to action.

Colts

Linebacker Mike Peterson, who was cleared to practice Monday night after missing nine practices with a knee injury, was pleased with his return.

Peterson sat out the first week of training camp because he was recovering from last month’s arthroscopic surgery. Peterson sprained a knee ligament against Miami last November.

Cowboys

Tackle Flozell Adams sprained his right knee and will miss Friday’s preseason game against Oakland. He’s expected to return to practice next week.

Rookie receiver Antonio Bryant went down with an ankle injury. It was only a bruise, though, and he returned after only a few plays off.