Ready To Rumble: Browns defensive backs wearing small boxing gloves to stop from holding

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Taylor Gabriel, left, catches a pass as defensive back Buster Skrine watches during practice at the NFL football team's training camp Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2014, in Berea, Ohio. Skrine is wearing small boxing gloves to keep him from grabbing jersey's of wide receivers. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak) (The Associated Press)

Cleveland Browns cornerback Justin Gilbert, left, defends against wide receiver Miles Austin during practice at the NFL football team's training camp Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2014, in Berea, Ohio. Gilbert is wearing small boxing gloves to keep him from grabbing jersey's of wide receivers.(AP Photo/Tony Dejak) (The Associated Press)

BEREA, Ohio – The Browns are ready to rumble.

To prepare for the NFL's crackdown on defensive holding, the team is making its cornerbacks and safeties wear boxing gloves during training camp practices. The smaller, mitten-like gloves — used by kickboxers and in mixed martial arts — prevent players from latching on to the jerseys of wide receivers, an allowable tactic in the past.

While the gloves have stopped players from holding, Browns cornerback Joe Haden joked that they're preventing him from making any interceptions during practice.

During a scrimmage in Akron on Saturday, nickel back Buster Skrine and safety Johnson Bademosi were both penalized for holding.

Browns rookie cornerback Justin Gilbert said he doesn't need to put on the gloves because "I don't grab and hold."

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