Former Dolphin Brian Hartline Drawing Interest From Patriots
By Brian Miller
It was only a matter of time before the New England Patriots became interested in former Miami Dolphins wide-receiver Brian Hartline. The free agent wide-out has had visits with Cleveland, Chicago, Houston, and will meet with New England. This according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer via Profootballtalk.com.
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The Patriots have had some question marks at wide-receiver despite the fact they won the Super Bowl last season. Hartline would be a very solid fit for the Patriots but doesn’t bring much more to the table than Julian Edelman. Both players are possession type receivers despite the fact that Hartline has lined up as the number two split receiver the last two seasons in Miami. That being said if anyone was going to milk his abilities the Patriots would likely find a way to make that happen.
Complicating Hartline’s potential deal with the Patriots is the current crop of receivers in New England, all of whom are under contract. Brandon LaFell and Danny Amendola along with two promising younger players in Aaron Dobson and Josh Boyce. Still the Patriots will due their due diligence on Hartline and if the pieces and price tag fit a deal could get worked out. Cabot doesn’t say that Hartline will actually visit the Patriots only that they have interest.
It’s been reported that Hartline would prefer to play somewhere closer to his Akron, Oh. home.
The free agent market is getting thick with wide-receiver talent. Randall Cobb is already set to hit the market and there are rumors that Brandon Marshall could be released in Chicago if a trade can’t be facilitated. The Dolphins have been rumored to be seeking a trade with Mike Wallace and Kansas City is rumored to be cashing out on Dwayne Bowe if a trade can’t be consummated. Free agency is only a few days away but there has already been a lot of action in the rumor department.