| 100% | STARQUARTERBACK | 15 | Athlete who rarely gets sacked or has a pass intercepted |
| 35% | PRO | 3 | Athlete who has a contract |
| 35% | PRO | 3 | Athlete who has a team contract |
| 35% | PRO | 3 | Athlete who's got a contract |
| 34% | PRO | 3 | Athlete who gets paid for playing a sport |
| 34% | LAPPED | 6 | Athletes who are a circuit behind have been __ |
| 33% | JOCKFULLONUTS | 13 | Athlete who has pigged out on snacks at a bar? |
| 33% | GYMNAST | 7 | Athlete who performs on a balance beam or pommel horse |
| 31% | BASS | 4 | Singer who rarely gets the melody in a choir |
| 31% | END | 3 | Player who may get a pass? |
| 30% | NEWBLOOD | 8 | People who have just joined a team or company |
| 30% | EMBARKED | 8 | To have gotten on board a ship or aircraft |
| 30% | COUTURE | 7 | Randy ___, former MMA athlete who has participated in the Olympics as a wrestling alternate |
| 30% | TOT | 3 | One who might have an "owie" or a "boo boo" |
| 30% | ROCKCLIMBER | 11 | Athlete who might have a "belayed" reaction, and what 3-, 5-, 9-, and 30-Down each contain? |
| 29% | ALI | 3 | Athlete who said, “I should be a postage stamp. That’s the only way I’ll ever get licked” |
| 28% | ALI | 3 | Athlete who said, "A man who has no imagination has no wings" |
| 28% | TICKET | 6 | Token or pass that a passenger would have to purchase to travel on 44d |
| 28% | EMS | 3 | The express lane at a supermarket is for people who have ten it___ or less |
| 28% | PRO | 3 | Athlete who gets paid |
| 27% | MEETS | 5 | Has a get-together |
| 27% | SKIBUM | 6 | One who's always getting a pass? |
| 27% | IMSHOOK | 7 | "This news has got me rattled!" ... or a hint to 1-, 20-, 37- and 54-Across |
| 27% | VARIABLE | 8 | Not consistent or having a fixed pattern |
| 27% | EAR | 3 | It may ring or have a ring |
| 27% | TED | 3 | 2012 film about a talking bear ... or actor Danson who had an uncredited cameo in it |
| 27% | PEN | 3 | Has a nib or ballpoint |
| 27% | PRO | 3 | Athlete who draws a salary |
| 27% | PRO | 3 | Athlete who earns a paycheck |
| 27% | SOLED | 5 | Having a sole or soles |