Dolphins release Brian Hartline

Two more veteran WRs released this am: Brian Hartline and Harry Douglas. Free-agent WR group grows.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 27, 2015

The Miami Dolphins have made their first salary cap move of the 2015 offseason by releasing wide receiver Brian Hartline. The move takes Hartline's scheduled $7.35 million hit against the cap this year and drops it to $4.2 million, giving the team $3.15 million back. If the team utilized the post-June 1 designation, they would be able to save $5.95 million in salary cap space, but would not see that money until June 2.

Hartline was a fourth round draft pick of the Dolphins in 2009. Over his six year career, Hartline has caught 298 passes for 4,243 yards and 12 touchdowns. He twice broke the 1,000 yard milestone in a season, reaching a career high 1,083 yards in 2012, then 1,016 yards the following season. Last year, Hartline disappeared from the Miami offense, starting all 16 games, but only catching 39 passes for 474 yards and two touchdowns.

The move of releasing Hartline does not come as a surprise, as the team had to find salary cap space this offseason. Estimates have Miami with one of the smallest amount of money to spend this year in the league. The team still has a decision to make on fellow wide receivers Mike Wallace and Brandon Gibson, who could also provide relief against the salary cap if they were to be released.