Browns land receiver Hartline hours before free agency opens

FILE - In this Dec. 1, 2013, file photo, Miami Dolphins wide receiver Brian Hartline runs with the ball after making a catch during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets in East Rutherford, N.J. Hartline agreed to terms on a two-year, $6 million contract Monday with the Cleveland Browns. The Ohio native finalized the deal on Tuesday, March 10, 2015, hours before NFL free agency opened. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File) FILE - In this Dec. 1, 2013, file photo, Miami Dolphins wide receiver Brian Hartline runs with the ball after making a catch during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets in East Rutherford, N.J. Hartline agreed to terms on a two-year, $6 million contract Monday with the Cleveland Browns. The Ohio native finalized the deal on Tuesday, March 10, 2015, hours before NFL free agency opened. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

By Associated Press March 10, 2015 4 min read

CLEVELAND (AP) – Brian Hartline’s outlook wasn’t exactly positive before he visited the Browns as a free agent.

“To be frank, I didn’t expect a whole lot,” the wide receiver said.

That quickly changed when he walked through the team’s remodeled facilities, met Cleveland coach Mike Pettine and heard the plan to turn around a team that was in the playoff mix last season before collapsing.

Hartline liked what he saw and heard.

“It just felt right,” he said. “At some point, your gut is just kind of there and it was one place that I was definitely interested in being.”