Change continues in Cleveland, as the Browns released wide receiver Brian Hartline on Monday.
Hartline, who grew up in Canton, Ohio, was with the Browns for one season and had 46 receptions for 523 yards. He finished strong, however, with 30 receptions for 341 yards in his final four games before a broken collarbone ended his season on Dec. 13.
"Hartline is a pro," coach Hue Jackson said at last week's organized team activities (OTAs). "He's been through it. He's had success. He knows how to play, and there's something to that. At the same time, he knows each and every day he's got to go out and compete because everybody's trying to win a spot."
Hartline, 29, was signed in the Ray Farmer-Mike Pettine era. Jackson and team vice president Sashi Brown are in their first year running the Browns.
The Browns drafted four receivers, including Corey Coleman in the first round. They have seen three of them in practices: Coleman, fourth-round pick Ricardo Louis and fifth-round pick Rashard Higgins. Jordan Payton, another fifth-round pick, has not been in OTAs because he is finishing his degree at UCLA.
Evidently the rookies did enough on the field to make Hartline expendable. He has been in the league seven seasons, six of them with Miami, and has 344 receptions for 4,766 yards and 14 touchdowns.
The timing of the release is tough. Safety Donte Whitner was not pleased that the Browns released him after the start of free agency, and he has not signed with a new team.
Hartline will be looking for a team at a time when most teams have already started on-field offseason work.