Redskins' Montgomery, Giants' Joseph avoid being ejected after kick-stomp exchange (VIDEO)

Robert Klemko, USA TODAY Sports | USATODAY

LANDOVER, Md. -- There are two versions of every story, and then there's the truth.

Here's what New York Giants defensive tackle Linval Joseph said happened during an exchange with Washington Redskins offensive lineman Will Montgomery Monday night, on a play Roger Goodell is sure to review:

"He dove into the pile, he hit one of my teammates in the shoulder," Joseph said. "So I pulled him off the ball, he turned around and he kicked me in my (groin). It took me everything not kick him back because I didn't want to hurt the team and I didn't want to get fined."

Did he stomp on Montgomery?

"I started then I stopped. I thought about it. It was a challenge."

And here's Montgomery's version of the story:

"I didn't kick him," he said. "I was just trying to get my leg loose."

Did Joseph stomp him?

"I definitely felt something."

And here's what actually happened, as the video shows below: Montgomery lay on the fringes of a pile after a third-quarter fumble when Joseph grabbed him by the leg in an attempt to pull him away. Montgomery responded by kicking Joseph just below the groin, prompting Joseph to stomp on Montgomery, just clipping the downed player with his foot.

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It was no Ndamukong Suh stomp, however, as Joseph hardly connected. Nobody was ejected after the play, with Joseph and Kory Lichtensteiger receiving offsetting personal fouls.

The two shook hands after the game when Montgomery initiated it. He doesn't think either party should be fined for the play. "It's just one of those things that kind of happened," he says. "I don't think either party should really be in trouble. It just kind of happened. Emotions were flaring. It's football."

Joseph agrees, but he also knows the score.

"It's up to the league," he said. "I guess we'll see on Wednesday."