Brian Hartline, a native of Canton and former Ohio State Buckeye, elected to sign a two-year, $6 million deal with the Cleveland Browns on Monday night following his release by the Miami Dolphins.
According to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Hartline had the chance to join the Chicago Bears, New England Patriots and Houston Texans as well before committing to the Browns. Hartline had taken visits to Cleveland, Chicago and Houston before making his decision.
“I didn’t just want to just meet with teams to meet with them,’' Hartline said. “I wanted to be able to able to picture myself in a situation, to be able to learn from a coaching staff and to build on what I’ve done for six years. I wanted to let things simmer down and take a little time.’'
After a pair of 1,000-yard seasons in 2012 and 2013, Hartline caught just 39 passes for 474 yards and two touchdowns last year for the Dolphins.