LANDOVER, Md. -- The rivalry between the New York Giants and Washington Redskins is heating up.
After the Redskins edged the Giants 17-16 in a pivotal NFC East game on Monday night, Washington owner Daniel Snyder was reportedly overheard expressing his hatred for the defending Super Bowl champions.
As the media was allowed into the Redskins locker room earlier than usual, Snyder shook hands with a team employee and said "I hate those m-----f------," according to USA Today.
The Redskins were fired up for their Monday night game against the Giants, using critical comments from Giants co-owner John Mara as motivational fodder leading up to the game, sources told ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter.
Mara, the chairman of the NFL's management committee, was among those who led the charge to take away $36 million worth of salary-cap space from the Redskins.
In an article that was posted on ESPN.com on March 25, Mara was quoted as saying, "I think (the Redskins) are lucky they didn't lose draft picks" and "I thought the penalties imposed were proper."
In the days leading up to the Giants-Redskins game, Washington coaches and officials had Mara's quotes hanging on sheets of paper on their office doors, according to team sources.
Based on the quotes, the Redskins are convinced that Mara tried to have enough draft picks taken away so that Washington couldn't complete its deal with St. Louis for the rights to select quarterback Robert Griffin III.
The Redskins still are appealing the $36 million in salary-cap space they lost -- $18 million last offseason and a scheduled $18 million for this upcoming offseason.
Washington chose Griffin with the second overall draft selection after trading four picks to St. Louis.
During the game, players from both teams had to be separated during a pileup following Redskins running back Alfred Morris' fumble in the third quarter.
Giants defensive tackle Linval Joseph and Redskins offensive lineman Kory Lichtensteiger were flagged for unnecessary roughness. Joseph appeared to be trying to drag Redskins offensive lineman Will Montgomery out of the pile by his leg as players were scrambling to come up with the fumble, which was recovered by the Giants' Keith Rivers. Montgomery retaliated by kicking Joseph in the groin area and then Joseph responded by attempting to stomp on Montgomery's chest.
After the game, Joseph insisted he did not stomp on Montgomery.
"It took me everything not to hit him back, because I didn't want to hurt the team," Joseph said.
Washington's victory cut the Giants' lead in the division to one game with four games remaining. Both the Redskins and the Cowboys are 6-6. The Giants (7-5) split the season series with Washington and Dallas.
Information from ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter was used in this report.