That's not what the gang of 14 indicated. Those 14 determine a filibuster override. And it includes 7 Dems. So you need a nominee that is acceptable to those 7 Dems in order to ensure that the rest of the Dems will not attempt a filibuster. And you also need to get Snowe and Collins on board as well.
No, a few of the Republican members of the gang have said that if the Dems filibustered a qualified choice they would go "nucular". I think at least one of those would have stuck by that promise, and Owens-Brown-Luttig-Insert real Conservative name here, WOULD be confirmed.
I disagree. I think we could've pried the necessary GOP votes out of that group to vote in favor of a qualified candidate such as Brown or Owens. If a couple chose to defect and join the Dems, so be it. If the Dems decided to filibuster, then let them be seen to obstruct the nomination of someone like JRB - it only helps the GOP and ultimately we could've changed the Senate rules anyway.