I think the narrative, "Bill treated players like ****" needs some qualifying. Yes- he was a prick to play for. Every player who played for him will say, "Bill was a tough coach, borderline a-hole"...but they said the same thing about Lombardi, Landry, Noll, and Shula. What do they all have in common? The players respected and appreciated them. The list is long of players who don't like Bill, but the list is longer of the players who will say Bill made them better players and put them in a position to succeed.
In terms of negotiating with Bill. He played hardball. Kraft did. Agents did. His shrewd mgt of the cap helped put this team is a position to have great rosters to support Tom.
If posters want to bash Bill for post Tom era or drafts, I'll agree.
To bash Bill for being an a-hole to players? Who cares.