I would argue that if a prostitute agrees to have sex with a john, and then prior to the sex act for whatever reason (she wants a higher price, he wants to sex with her with a broomstick, etc) she changes her mind, and he forces her to have sex anyway, then that is rape or sexual assault even if he pays her. If the prostitute and the john have consensual sex and he then skips out on payment, that would not be rape or even theft, since selling your body for sex is an illegal contract. The timing is key, IMO.
In any case, the players claim that they didn't have sex with her, so if they are telling the truth than this whole conversation is irrelevant to this case. I wonder what is holding up the DNA results, it is almost Friday of the week when they were to come back.
I agree with your points in post. Same page.