By Nick Shook | NFL.com
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Alan Branch got a second chance with the Patriots in 2014, and it seems the team wants him involved in its near future.

The defensive tackle has agreed to stay in New England, according to his agent Blake Baratz. NFL Media’s Albert Breer reported Saturday that Branch’s contract is a two-year deal worth a maximum of $6.6 million.

Branch signed with the Patriots midway through the 2014 season, bringing much-needed help to a front-seven that was ravaged by injuries early in the year. The nose tackle appeared in eight games (two starts), tallying 13 tackles. More importantly, Branch helped plug holes for a defensive line that saw a notable improvement in performance as the season progressed.

Branch was cut by the Bills after his arrest for drunken driving in August, and was a free agent until he joined New England. With Vince Wilfork‘s time as a Patriot coming to an end, New England was wise to keep one of its mammoth interior linemen.