Quote Originally Posted by Maxie the Taxi View Post
I wouldn't say there is an equivalency between employer and employee. There is an equivalency between employers which seems to have been the problem in this case.

The employee can find work only if there is an employer willing to hire him (or keep him). There are Free Agents in the NFL, but no Independent Contractors.
Being able to find an employer is part of what gives better players more leverage despite the constraints of the standard contract and the CBA. Bennett seems to have been ready to have surgery and end up on IR. The Packers didn't want to encourage players to choose that route so they took their next best option, waive him and challenge his roster bonus.

There is a range of leverage which the teams enjoy, specifically with younger and more marginal players. Those did not apply to Bennett in this case, except for the risk to his unallocated bonus.

If Goode tried this, he probably would be unsigned. I also suspect Goode's path was the fastest way back to the team without carrying him on the roster.