Following the Patriots’ announcement of their signing of for

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Obi Melifonwu on Tuesday https://www.patriotsfanstore.com/Ja_Whaun-Bentley-Jersey , more details have been released regarding his contract with the team. According to the Boston Globe’s Ben Volin, the Patriots inked the former UConn product to a deal that potentially keeps him in Foxborough through the 2019 season.The signing doesn’t impact Melifonwu’s 2018 cap figure of $261,176, which is an eight-week proration of the $555,000 minimum salary that a player with one credited season receives. Here’s how his 2019 salary cap figure breaks down:Salary: $645,000 ($100,000 of which is guaranteed) — the minimum for a player with two credited seasons.Roster Bonus: $30,000 — earned by making the team out of training camp.Workout bonus: $25,000 — not technically classified as guaranteed, but an easy way for a minimum salaried-player to earn offseason cash.Per-game bonuses: $125,000 — $7,812.50 for each game in which he active next season. The likely to be earned (LTBE) total that will reflect on the Patriots’ 2019 cap sheet will be determined by how many times he suits up in 2018. If he is active for the next eight games — which seems quite improbable — the team would carry a $62 Jordan Matthews Color Rush Jersey ,500 charge into 2019 for them.In total, Melifonwu’s 2019 cap charge will be $762,500, which will decrease by $7,812.50 for each game that he is inactive for this season. The Patriots obviously see the potential in trying to develop a player like Melifonwu who possesses premium athletic pedigree and comes from an Oakland Raiders organization rife with dysfunction. Melifonwu is now the ninth defensive back and fifth safety currently under contract with the Patriots in 2019.The move brings very little financial risk and some solid upside. Initially, on would think that his athleticism would translate to a special teams unit or two while he learns the defense and develops. Presumably the 2019 goal would be to him provide potential competition for veteran Patrick Chung at the box safety spot, or as depth at the “big” corner spot currently occupied by guys like Jason McCourty and Eric Rowe — each of whom are not under contract with the team in 2019. For a second-year defensive back looking for a place to get his career off the ground, New England provides an solid landing spot. However, it’s also an excellent opportunity for third-year safeties coach Steve Belichick — who gets an athletic blank canvas like Melifonwu and ten months to help mold him into a chess piece for de facto defensive coordinator Brian Flores.Follow Brian Phillips on Twitter - @BPhillips_SB Over the last three games, the New England Patriots’ offensive attack finally found the groove it had been missing earlier in the year: during its current win streak, the team scored 38 points apiece against the Miami Dolphins and Indianapolis Colts, before hanging 43 on the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. What stood out during all three contests was New England’s ability to effectively move the football both on the ground and through the air.The Patriots failed to do either of those things on a consistent basis through weeks one to three – and for head coach Bill Belichick it is no surprise that both improved simultaneously as of late. As he pointed out during a conference call on Tuesday Kenny Britt Jersey , the running and passing game live a symbiotic relationship. “Probably nothing has helped our passing game more than the running game and vice versa,” Belichick said.The rushing attack’s role in particular is noteworthy considering that the Patriots have usually relied primarily on Tom Brady’s right arm to get the offense going. However, first-round rookie running back Sony Michel has recently taken on a bigger role within the unit: over the last three weeks, Michel’s 316 rushing yards rank second in the league behind only the Los Angeles Rams’ Todd Gurley (368 yards).New England’s passing game is also reaping the benefits of Michel and the offensive line establishing their dominance on the ground. “When the running game is effective, that helps the play-action passes a lot,” said Belichick yesterday. “I’d say that’s really a big key for us. [...] If you’re running the ball effectively that brings a lot more people to that run action than if you’re not running it effectively.”The results are speaking for themselves. With an improved running game and the integration of Julian Edelman and Josh Gordon into the offense, the Patriots have been able to improve their passing output from 202.3 yards and two touchdowns per game (weeks 1-3) to 314.0 yards and 2.3 scores (weeks 3-6). Granted, the sample sizes are small but the trend is still an encouraging one – and Belichick sees it the same way.“I think our passing game is improving,” he told reporters. “I don’t think it’s where it needs to be or is where we want it to be yet but its improving. Hopefully it’ll continue to improve.”