Backstabbing happens all the time in the business world. Dog eat dog and cover your ass are common terms that are part of the lexicon. I see nothing in Russell's actions that were unique or out of the ordinary.
I'm not saying that all should be forgotten and forgiven as what he did was disloyal to those that gave him his big break and made him into who he is and his dishonesty with his fans was extremely disingenuous and very selfish, but the shock and awe expressed by some indicates a bit of naivety as to how the real world works.
It is unique and not at all ordinary for a player to lobby for his coach and GM to be fired so that he can use them as a smoke screen to cover for the fact that they were correct in seeing that he wasn't the player he portrayed himself to be or that the team needed. If you disagree, when else has it happened? When else has a player so vociferously claimed innocence and ignorance at being traded not only knowing it was happening, but actively lobbying teammates to come with him to his preferred destination.
Trying to normalize that kind of behavior is ridiculous. It doesn't occur everyday in business or in sport and when it does, it's grounds for that player or employee to be terminated and for their actions to be reflected in their record for any enquiring eye to see for the remainder of their career. Russ wasn't just 'doing what business people do'. He was doing what narcissistic, ego driven people do. Trying to couch it as the everyday behavior of business people is like trying to minimize criminal activity because it happens everyday.
And he will forever be remembered for it. As will his final, unceremonious and revealing years with the Broncos.