49ers quarterback Alex Smith on benching: 'It sucks'

Chris Strauss, USA TODAY Sports | USATODAY

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith spoke to reporters Thursday afternoon for the first time since he was benched in favor of second-year pro Colin Kaepernick.

Needless to say, he didn't accept his backup status quite as positively as some others in his position might.

Via CSN Bay Area:

"I mean, it sucks," Smith said. "I don't know what else to say."

Smith made a point not to criticize Kaepernick or head coach Jim Harbaugh, noting that the demotion hurt the most because of how successful the 8-2-1 team has been this season, with Smith winning NFC offensive player of the week honors the week before suffering a concussion in the 49ers' 24-24 tie with St. Louis on Nov. 11.

"You state your case with your play, and I felt I did that.," Smith said. "I feel like the only thing I did to lose my job was get a concussion."

Smith's body language while watching his successor beat New Orleans 31-21 last Sunday wasn't exactly supportive, and that's before Harbaugh officially gave him the job. It'll be interesting to see just how that changes this week in St. Louis now that Smith knows he'll be holding the clipboard for the foreseeable future.