Dolphin 4th round pick Hartline gets 4y/4 million Contract
Ex-Buckeye WR Brian Hartline is happy with his deal. As a 4th round pick, he hit the jackpot both because he is better than the average 4th round choice and because the Dolphins REALLY need WR depth. He reportedly got a signing bonus of $500,000 and a max deal of 4 years 4 mil.
By Bill Smith
Hartline joins the battle for the 3rd WR behind former OSU star Ted Ginn Jr. and Greg Camarillo. Hartline brings the one thing that the Dolphins really needs most in a WR—accurate crisp patterns.
I wrote a couple of years ago that starting QB Chad Pennington has the brain of a coach, the heart of lion but the arm of a chicken. His lack of arm strength forces the team to focus their passing attack in the short and middle zones. To get open in a small space, you have to run crisp routes. Completions depend on the ball being thrown before the player makes his final break. That means the patterns have to be run accurately. The WR has to be where the QB expects him to be and be there on time.
Hartline brings that. He is the perfect slot or underneath receiver and will challenge for a starting spot in the near future.
That's what I think. Tell me what you think.
Bill Smith is a former coach of several semi-pro teams, has officiated both football and basketball, done color on radio for college football and basketball and has scouted talent. He is a senior writer for http://NFLDraftDog.com and edits http://fryingpansports.com. He has also published several novels on http://www.eBooks-Library/Contemporary/Author.cfm?AuthorID=1003 and edits http://fryingpanpolitics.blog.com.