Mark Snyder

Detroit Free Press

Now that Charles Woodson is retired, there is an undisputed king of Michigan’s NFL players: Tom Brady.

U-M fans have long identified themselves with the New England Patriots’ four-time Super Bowl champion quarterback and have measured NFL seasons by his success.

Which will make tonight a bit unusual.

Brady’s team will be starting the season in a marquee game against Arizona, but Brady won’t be on the field. He’ll be starting a four-game suspension for his role in Deflategate.

He isn’t sure how it will play out.

“I think that’s a good word, uncharted, so we’ll do the best we can do,” Brady told New England reporters after playing the first half of a Sept. 1 preseason game.

The ultra-competitive Brady will be replaced by Jimmy Garrappolo, and Brady isn’t sure how much he can stand to watch.

“I’m sure I’ll be very curious and watching at some level, so we’ll see,” he said. “I have never dealt with it, so we’ll see.”

His suspension began Sept. 3, with no team-related contact with coaches or players, and he cannot attend the Patriots’ practices or facility, so he was glad to get snaps in the Sept. 1 game, the last opportunity.

“It all helps,” he said. “The practices are really important, but ultimately the game decisions and getting hit, it’s all about decision-making as a quarterback. And you try to replicate it in practice, but at the end of the day it’s got to be game situations and real football.”

As New England’s fiery leader for the past decade-plus — this is his 17th season since graduating from Michigan following the 1999 college season — Brady has had only one sustained absence since becoming the starter in 2001. In 2008, he wrecked his knee in the season opener, and that team went 11-5 without him.

But he’s not worried about someone filling the leadership role.

“We’ve had so many great leaders on our team that have stepped in and filled the void,” he said. “Coach (Bill) Belichick does a great job of getting the team prepared and motivated. They’re going to understand what they need to do. I’ll be cheering like hell.”

So what will he do with his time during the suspension (other than visit Michigan as the honorary captain for Saturday’s Colorado game) and how does he expect to feel?

“I haven’t thought about it much,” he said. “I always take it as it comes. Just do the best I could do.”

Two ex-Wolverines have Tom Brady's back in Deflategate

Former U-M players in the NFL

QB Tom Brady, New England

DL Alan Branch, New England

DL Frank Clark, Seattle

WR Devin Funchess, Carolina

OL Graham Glasgow, Detroit

DE Brandon Graham, Philadelphia

CB Leon Hall, N.Y. Giants

LB David Harris, N.Y. Jets

DT Willie Henry, Baltimore

OL Taylor Lewan, Tennessee

QB Ryan Mallett, Baltimore

OG Patrick Omameh, Jacksonville

RB Denard Robinson, Jacksonville

LB Jake Ryan, Green Bay

OG Michael Schofield, Denver

RB Fitz Toussaint, Pittsburgh

S Jarrod Wilson, Jacksonville

Practice squad

DE Brennen Beyer, Baltimore

QB Jake Rudock, Detroit

DT Richard Ash, Jacksonville

CB Blake Countess, Los Angeles

FB Joe Kerridge, Washington