To elaborate, here is how management has been "all over the road".
They had a clearly articulated policy that they never renegotiated existing contracts before their last year. This policy applied to all contracts, i.e., no exceptions, no matter who you are. During this period, Bennett signed his contract, giving the team a bit of a discount, for the good of the team, to allow management to retain talent, and obtain more good players, to support the goal of increasing wins.
Then Marshawn said he needed more money. Management said no way; our policy forbids this.
So he held out, and then management caved, saying something like "but only for this year". This was the first swerve on the road.
The next year he said he needed more money, and management said "no way, and we already told you that our policy forbids this, and last years caving was an exception, which is never to be repeated". This was the second swerve, this time to the original side of the road.
So he held out.
And then management caved a second time, the third swerve, this time to the caving side again.
Then they swerved back to their original position; this is the fourth swerve.
So four serves so far, or two swerves with returns, which I think qualifies for "being all over the road". Cops would stop you for just one swerve and return.
Meanwhile, Bennett, who has a great mind, is reading all of this, plus he is talking with the players, and getting lots of inside information, which is giving him reasons to reconsider the [virtual] home town discount which he earlier gave to management.
Then Russell's baseball agent, obviously with Russell's support, demands a baseball-type contract, with no discount whatsoever. Bennett notes this discrepancy too. And thinks about it.
Understanding that he is already on his last contract, he decides that he should consider puling a Marshawn style negotiation tactic to get a little more money while he can. Getting it while the getting is good. It will no longer be good when his contract expires.
I understand that NFL football is a business, and thus have no problem with either management or the players.
I do have a problem understanding why some fans here have a problem with Michael Bennett doing what Marshawn has already done twice. Is it because Bennett is an uppity lineman whose is doing what only backs are allowed to do, or only because Marshawn is consistent with his uppityness? And why can not Bennett do this too? Why is he discriminated against?
Why the double standards?