The Pittsburgh Steelers’ Bubby Brister, angry about...

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ Bubby Brister, angry about his demotion to third-team quarterback, claimed he is being punished for refusing to play during the NFL strike.

Brister wondered whether the Steelers are making an example out of him because he wouldn’t cross the picket line with 18 other regulars. Steve Bono, quarterback of the non-union team, was named to back up starter Mark Malone.

“I could see them demoting me if I had been rebellious during the strike, if I had been carrying around a shotgun or dogs or chasing people around,” Brister said. “But I thought it was pretty mild around here. I feel like I haven’t done anything to lose my job.”

Coach Chuck Noll, at his weekly news conference, said that Brister had “missed a golden opportunity” to win the quarterback job from Malone by not playing during the strike.