OSU defensive coordinator and former Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano talks with former player Eric LeGrand as Rutgers holds a satellite football camp with Ohio State and Temple at Fairleigh Dickinson. 6/8/16 Madison, NJ (John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

Eric LeGrand is a big Denver Broncos fan, but that's not what caused him and a handful of other Rutgers alums to be on the receiving end of some friendly trash talk from New England Patriots star quarterback Tom Brady.

The inspirational LeGrand addressed members of the Patriots and New Orleans Saints with his message of overcoming adversity after watching a joint practice between the teams Wednesday in Foxborough, Mass.

Brady, a Michigan alum, chatted casually with LeGrand and his entourage of former Rutgers teammates stationed with the Patriots.

"Now that you are in the Big Ten," Brady said, as seen in a video posted to LeGrand's Instagram account, "you are going to get your butt-kicked."

In fairness, Rutgers alum, proud trash-talker and one of LeGrand's best friends Devin McCourty started the war of words by telling LeGrand that Brady, "was scared to bet me when we played Michigan."

After all shared a good laugh, Brady, who is in training camp despite being suspended for the first four games of the NFL season, told LeGrand to "keep up the great work."

A nationally acclaimed spokesperson for the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, LeGrand is the face of spinal cord injury research and awareness. He was paralzyed while making a tackle for Rutgers in an October 2010 game.

Soon afterward, the Colonia High School product set up the Team LeGrand charity and he since has traveled the country providing hope and boosting fundraising.

"The message was to look at every obstacle as an opportunity, and to not let whatever problem you're dealing with conquer you. You conquer the problem or situation," Patriots rookie receiver Malcolm Mitchell told ESPN.com.

LeGrand posted the video of Brady with the message: "Brady tryin to talk a little junk to @mccourtytwins (D-Mac) and me about @michiganfootball and @rfootball Lolol don't worry though ... we coming haha"

Bragging rights between the two sides will be up for grabs again Oct. 8 when Michigan visits Piscataway -- likely as a heavy favorite.

The home team has won the first two meetings, with Rutgers prevailing in 2014 -- McCourty put a Rutgers T-shirt in Brady's locker a few days later -- but Michigan getting revenge in 2016.

Always great seeing my @RFootball boys. It's like we never missed a beat. Truly #RFamily pic.twitter.com/U4U2fRl3I7 — Eric LeGrand (@EricLeGrand52) August 11, 2016

It's no surprise to find LeGrand in New England given Patriots coach Bill Belichick's well-documented fondness for Rutgers alums from the Greg Schiano era.

Belichick's son Steve -- safeties coach for the Patriots -- is a former Rutgers lacrosse player and walk-on long snapper.

The Rutgers connection photo shows LeGrand with McCourty, Jonathan Freeny, Duron Harmon, Logan Ryan and Kevin Snyder of the Patriots, as well as Brandon Coleman of the Saints.

Ryan Dunleavy may be reached at rdunleavy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rydunleavy. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.