Not required update 7001 and possible eroor in "not null" setting on database field

Problem/Motivation

Upon update to 7.28 a database update is attempted. First you get a notice that says

flexslider_picture module
Update #7001

Failed: PDOException: SQLSTATE[22004]: Null value not allowed: 1138 Invalid use of NULL value: ALTER TABLE {flexslider_picture_optionset} CHANGE `fallback` `fallback` VARCHAR(255) NOT NULL COMMENT 'The style machine name.'; Array ( ) in db_add_field() (line 2844 of /home/logpower/public_html/includes/database/database.inc).

Upon reviewing the database I see a "null" value set. Checking the module settings page I see "Automatic" set. It seems this is not getting picked up and added to the database. So manually setting a fallback image style, then re-running the update, I get the following.

flexslider_picture module
Update #7001

Failed: DatabaseSchemaObjectExistsException: Cannot add field flexslider_picture_optionset.fallback: field already exists. in DatabaseSchema_mysql->addField() (line 328 of /home/content/61/10102761/html/includes/database/mysql/schema.inc).

Does this field exist already before the update? Or is the addition in the database required and the setting of "Automatic" not working?

Proposed resolution

Needs testing first.

Remaining tasks

Test to see if either the update is not required or if it is, then what is going on with the default setting of "Automatic" why is it coming into the database as "Null", or perhaps "not null" should be set to "FALSE"

User interface changes

None

API changes