The wide receiver free agency pool just got a bit deeper with the addition of Brian Hartline. The Miami Dolphins released the veteran Friday morning.
Releasing the 28-year-old Hartline, who was on track to earn $5.9 million in 2015 and count $7.35 million against the team’s salary cap, makes sense for the Dolphins at this time. Hartline saw a diminishing role in the Dolphins offense this past season with the emergence of rookie receiver Jarvis Landry.
Coming off of back-to-back 1,000-plus yard seasons, Hartline had only 39 catches for 474 yards and two touchdowns in 2015.
Hartline will now hit free agency as one of the mid-tier receivers that include the likes of Hakeem Nicks, Kenny Britt, Harry Douglas, Jacoby Jones and Nate Washington. For the right price, Hartline, who produced a total of 4,243 receiving yards and scored 12 touchdowns in his six seasons in Miami, still holds moderate value.
The next task for the Miami Dolphins is to tackle the elephant in the room. That elephant being Mike Wallace.
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