WR Brian Hartline (official thread)

I hope he starts at wide receiver for you guys........enjoy your season.

Florida

Q&A with Miami Dolphins' fourth-round pick WR Brian Hartline
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
3:04 PM EDT, April 26, 2009

(On if he is happy to be reunited with former Buckeye teammate Ted Ginn) – "Cannot wait. Ted and I have the same agent, so I have to call him and get Ted's number and we're going to start chatting. He better get his coaching shoes ready because I'm going to need help, but it's going to be a lot of fun."

(On if he thinks he can take Ginn's starting job) – "I don't know, I'm definitely going to push him and make him better. We ran track together all through high school, me, and his dad, and his family, we are all family friends. We were always battling for the state hurdling title, so it's going to be a lot of fun. I can't wait, I'm ecstatic right now."

(On who won the races between himself and Ginn in high school) – "They were close, but he did. He had two years on me - a freshman battling with a junior Ted Ginn - it was pretty difficult, but it was a lot of fun. I love working with the guy."

(On how much he has talked with Ginn prior to today) – "I haven't even talked to him actually. Just Ted Ginn Sr., I haven't talked to Teddy (Jr.) at all."

Continued.................

Florida

Miami Dolphins receivers catching on at minicamp


Miami Dolphins rookie wide receiver Brian Hartline catches a pass during rookie minicamp at Nova Southeastern University in Davie on Saturday, May 2, 2009. MARC SEROTA / GETTY IMAGES


BY BARRY JACKSON
bjackson@MiamiHerald.com
Dolphins coach Tony Sparano likes what he has seen so far from two receivers the team drafted last weekend -- Southern California's Patrick Turner and Ohio State's Brian Hartline. And both hope to exceed the expectations of draft analysts.

Turner said he did not hear the criticism from ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. -- who said ''he's not that good a player'' and was a ''reach'' in the third round -- or ESPN's Todd McShay, who said there were 10 better receivers on the NFL Draft board when Miami drafted Turner.

Kiper said Hartline, selected in the fourth round, is ``probably a fourth receiver and special teams guy.''

After a 52-reception season in 2007, Hartline caught only 21 passes last season -- a function of how Ohio State's offense evolved with a freshman quarterback -- but had an excellent average per catch (22.8 yards).

''Brian is a very, very smart guy, along the lines of a Greg Camarillo type,'' Sparano said. ``He's been brought up in the slot -- they used him there a lot at Ohio State. That's maybe his strength.''

Hartline identified his strengths as his ``agility, getting out of breaks, running good routes, knowing where to be.''

Hartline said he has spoken with Dolphins receiver Ted Ginn Jr., a former Buckeyes teammate.

''We're excited to see each other,'' Hartline said. ``Same old skinny Teddy.''

FYI........

Dolphins signed fourth-round WR Brian Hartline to a four-year contract with a signing bonus of roughly $500,000 and a max value of $4 million.
Hartline wasn't very productive as Ohio State's passing offense struggled late in his career, and could've used another year in school. He'll likely have to pay his dues on special teams in year one before seeing much time on offense.

^^^ Congrat's kid was better than most think!!!!

I wish him luck, I still won't call myself a fan of his though.

Glad to hear it

Had to throw this in again...

good times!

Miami

WR Brian Hartline isn't taking a backseat to fellow rookie wide receiver Patrick Turner.

While Turner has stood out since he arrived in South Florida, Hartline is making his share of plays, too.

Tuesday, Hartline had a better day than Turner, including a leaping catch along the sideline over 6-foot-3 Sean Smith during the morning session. In the evening practice, Hartline picked up where he left off, making several nice grabs.

Turner suffered a drop and was whistled for pass interference during the morning, but bounced back in the evening session in the practice bubble. Turner offers size (6-5, 220) Hartline (6-2, 195) does not.

But Hartline had the reputation as a fearless special teams player at Ohio State.

Many questioned the wisdom of Hartline leaving school early. But couple his special teams play with some playmaking, and the Dolphins' front office could look pretty smart to have grabbed him in the fourth round.

Interesting...............

Hartline has a $4 million contract, but Miami has a bargain

By EDGAR THOMPSON
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Thursday, August 06, 2009

DAVIE — Many wondered what wide receiver Brian Hartline was thinking when he decided to leave Ohio State University a year early.

At times, Hartline was among them, although his concerns had nothing to do with his playing ability. He agonized over leaving what he called a "magical" place. "Columbus, the nightlife, everything - it's a great place to be," he said. "It was tough to leave."

The Dolphins eased his doubts and dismissed those of the so-called experts by drafting Hartline in the fourth round in April. That was a couple of rounds higher than projected after he had only 21 catches as a junior. He has rewarded the Dolphins with an impressive first week of camp. "He keeps amazing me every day," wide receiver Brandon London said.

Hartline entered camp hoping to have a big play each day. Tuesday, he had a leaping sideline grab over 6-foot-3 rookie cornerback Sean Smith. A day later, Hartline made a diving catch in the end zone on a Chad Henne bomb. "That's part of camp; (coaches) say, "Make us watch you. Catch our eye,' " Hartline said. "That's the thing I'm trying to keep in mind each and every day and every play I get to the line of scrimmage - it could be that play."

His instant impact hasn't surprised coach Tony Sparano. Before the draft, he hit the road to visit campuses with General Manager Jeff Ireland and wide receivers coach Karl Dorrell. At Ohio State, the Dolphins spent a lot of time with Hartline, who had only 90 catches in three seasons and was considered a far lesser talent than Brian Robiskie, who went to Cleveland in the second round.

Sparano and Co. watched a lot of film of Hartline's sophomore year, when he had 52 catches, 694 yards and six TDs. His hands, quickness, versatility and football IQ sold Sparano. "I thought he had some savviness to him," Sparano said. "We talked a lot of football with him, and it didn't take long to figure out he's a pretty smart guy."

Smart enough to know college football had run its course for him. Ohio State, which reached the national championship game after the 2006 and '07 seasons, took a step back in 2008. A quarterback switch from fifth-year senior Todd Boeckman to freshman Terrelle Pryor divided the locker room and changed the offense from a pro-style scheme to a spread, meaning less passing and less opportunity for Hartline.

He said he wasn't bitter, but despite the allure of campus life, he decided it was time for a change. Football aside, he had been in college for four years, had earned a degree in communications and also had a new bride. "It wasn't like, 'I need to get out of here,' " he said. "I was ready to on with my life, keep learning, keep moving. That's all it was."

Now he is fighting for a spot on the 53-man roster, competing with the likes of London, 2008 practice squad member Anthony Armstrong and fellow rookie Patrick Turner. Ted Ginn Jr., Greg Camarillo and Davone Bess - Miami's top receivers last year - are locks for three of the five or six spots.

But he seems to have the right mentality to stick. In college, Hartline (6-foot-2, 186 pounds) was a demon on special teams. He twice won the Jack Tatum hit-of-the-week award at Ohio State. "He covered kicks like a madman," Buckeyes receivers coach Darrell Hazel said Thursday. "He was a fearless guy."

Hartline said he hopes to show that in Dolphins camp. "If you're on this team, you're going to be making some plays somewhere," he said. "And I intend on doing it. That's the mind-set I have."