And it's utterly impossible that that is basically what I meant?

But anyway, the reality is they are paid for playing the games. That's why they talk about their game checks. Suspended players don't forfeit "practice" checks. NFL players are paid by the game, not by their participation in peripheral team functions, like practice or meetings. They don't HAVE to work out, as long as they perform on game day. The practical reality that they are not going to be able to play at a competitive level if they DON'T keep in shape is an irrelevant detail. Lawrence Taylor famously would hold out on spurious grounds to skip training camp and would sleep through team meetings, and no one cared because his natural athletic ability and instinct for the game allowed him to perform without that preparation. He got paid, because there were no complaints about his play. It's like actors and movies. An actress who does not keep up her appearance is not going to be cast for films, but they get paid for the films. One who needs a special diet and daily workout regimen to maintain her figure in the acceptable range will get paid the same for the role as a woman whose natural metabolism and build makes keeping her figure effortless. In fact, the one who can easily & naturally keep her looks might actually get preferential casting, because there will be less worry about her slipping up, or unforeseen circumstances disrupting her fitness regimen.