This exposes the fiction of
#NIL "license agreements." They're employment contracts disguised to avoid labor protections, workers' comp, and union rights.
If players are employees in all but name (fined for tardiness, required to attend, and subject to performance obligations), they deserve employee protections. Can't have it both ways. Either these are real licensing deals (and you can't fine someone for being late to practice) or admit it's compensated labor.