What is a Professional Athlete?

What describes a Professional Athlete? Is it a player who plays professional games, goes to mini camp or training camp, gets paid by an organization, or is it someone who signs a contract to get paid while playing a sport?

Player A: Signs waivers, gets paid a Stipend, and works out for a team. He gets cut, never playing in a game but is paid a small amount by the organization for his time.

Player B: Gets offered a contract barring injury evaluation to try and make the roster. Gets cut before ever playing a down due to injury and is paid a small amount by the organization for his time.

Player C: Gets offered a contract to play for an organization, has his rights traded to another team, tries out for that team, gets cut again, never playing in a preseason game or a regular season game.

Player D: Tries out for several teams and eventually gets cut, never signs a contract to get paid while trying out. However, he still gets paid a stipend and per diem from the organization for his time.

Player E: Signs a contract and gets paid millions to play a sport.


In which one of these scenarios is there a Professional Athlete?