Colin Kaepernick in happier times – Super Bowl XLVII.

The San Francisco 49ers benched starting quarterback Colin Kaepernick for Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons in favor of Blaine Gabbert, who played better but was promptly hit in the head, necessitating the return of Colin, who was booed by the fans. The 49ers beat the Falcons 17-16.

Needless to say, Kaepernick – who just turned 28 – was not happy about being told to take a breather.

"I'm not out of breath, so I don't understand that reference,” he told reporters. “I don't believe in pressure. Pressure is not being prepared for what you want to do. To me, I've played full seasons and had success. Mentally, I've been through it before. I'm not incapable of going through this."

What a shame. Here was someone who led the team to the Super Bowl in 2013 after replacing a concussive Alex Smith. Now he’s been replaced and may be on his way out of San Fran. What happened? Is it Colin’s inability to be an effective pocket passer, or the team’s inability to utilize his strengths as a running quarterback or both? By now, he’s got to be so confused and demoralized that it’s hard to imagine him returning with any success – assuming he starts again.

Then again, the mark of performance greatness – on the field/stage or in the office – is the ability to turn off the meshugaas, go deep inside yourself and come back stronger and better than ever. It’s what QB Quinn Novak does again and again in my forthcoming novel “The Penalty for Holding” – the second in my series “The Games Men Play” – but fiction is a lot easier than life. You can always control the outcome.

Colin Kaepernick is a gifted, charismatic quarterback and a loyal teammate and company man. Here’s hoping he gets the happy gridiron ending he deserves.