If he didn't want to agree to it he could have fought it by making the RINOs and Rats vote on the rules with Owens or Brown as the face of the rules change, since a group of Republicans switching votes could have forced a ruling from the chair and the procedural vote to uphold. Instead, he didn't. He rolled over.
Which tells me Frist is pissed about this 'deal' the way that Dubya is pissed when Mexicans hop the border. He had to know it would happen and didn't do nearly enough to stop it, so his concern must be minimal. They're still hanging out at the same country club...it doesn't matter to them.
Sorry, you are wrong.
The gang of 14 voted for cloture.
Ending the filibuster.
Frist could not call for a rules change without an active filibuster.
He rolled over.