Gladiators pay to play

The drills are the same, the fundamentals are too. And yet, there is one very big difference between this Green Bay football team and the one that draws quite a bit more attention.

"They pay for their pads, travel, jerseys," says Gladiators coach Patick Hockers. "Everything is paid by them."

Not only are these guys paying to play, but they are also sacrificing their time. The Gladiators practice twice a week before the season starts.

"A lot of us are husbands, fathers, boyfriends. We bring our kids. My son has pretty much grown up here," says Gladiators wide receiver A.B. Cassell.

So why exactly are these Gladiators willing to pay such a hefty price for aching knees and crushing blows?

"Still living the dream, I guess," says Cassell. "Not so much knowing there's nothing after this, but to play until you really can't play anymore."

This summer the Gladiators will play eight games in the semi-professional Northern Elite Football League.

"We're giving up our Saturdays to put on the best show that we can," says Hockers. "We understand there's baseball and other football. We're not trying to compete against them. We're just trying to offer the best product we can at an affordable price."

For five dollars, you can watch the Gladiators give their all.

"Twenty-two guys on the field that are playing for nothing more than to win or to lose. No money. Everything we get we put in ourselves. It's the pride of it all and to continue playing the game we grew up to love," says Cassell.

As the sun sets, the Gladiators play on. With so much invested, they want to represent the best they can.