not quite neutral - if they are first to act, then there will be a wake of covering to follow acting on their long positions. Like you said -it isn't all just them short here.
I like to think of the bath-tub example:
Fat guys can't get in without the water rising - unelss of course the tub capacity is increased. that way, with the same amount of water, the level stays the same.
Sell shares short, increasing the tub size, and fat-asses like adersely and Morgan Stasnley can get in.