Everyone has to be in agreement on how the music will feel. Also, if you're outnumbered, you have to be open enough to go with the others. I think the concept of a rhythm section agreeing on the time is not so much a verbal understanding discussed between players, as it is an intuitive one. Musicians are varied, but time as a concept is a constant. Some players play on top of the beat.
Some players play on the back side while others play right on.
I believe there is no right or wrong here, just human interpretation. What you look for in a good rhythm section is similarity in everyone's internal clock. In the future, I will be interviewing more rhythm section players in regard to their concept of the good bassist.