y. Flacco ranks 29th in the NFL in passer rat

Free-agent forward Ryan Anderson is headed to the Houston Rockets on a four-year deal worth $80 million, his agency, Octagon, told ESPNs Marc Stein.The Rockets met with the former Pelican on Saturday afternoon and finalized the terms following a nearly two-hour meeting.Anderson is the first major free agent obtained by the Rockets this summer. The team held meetings with Kent Bazemore, Al Horford and Anderson in an attempt to upgrade a roster that went 41-41 last season.Anderson arrived in New Orleans via a sign-and-trade with the Orlando Magic, with whom he won the leagues most improved player award in 2011-12. He quickly established himself as a potent offensive option next to budding superstar Anthony Davis, with the ability to hit 37.7 percent of his 3-pointers at power forward.But Andersons four-year stint with the Pelicans was marred by injury and tragedy. He missed 97 games, including 60 in 2013-14 after a collision in Boston led to him being removed from the court on a stretcher and later having surgery to address a herniated cervical disk. He was held out of the Pelicans final 14 games last season because of a sports hernia.In August 2013, his girlfriend, reality television actress Gia Allemand, committed suicide in New Orleans. Anderson built a strong bond with then-Pelicans coach Monty Williams and his wife, Ingrid, through the event and remained close to the family even after Williams was fired last summer. Ingrid Williams died in a car accident in February, and Anderson spoke often about his grief and appreciation for her.Anderson reflected on his New Orleans tenure in early March, saying, I grew up a lot over the past four years. You cant take things too seriously. This game can frustrate you, it can get in your head, but theres more important things in life, and I think thats definitely what its taught me here. But, yeah, this four years have been a big molding point in my life, I think. To really change my mind about how I think about life in general. Its changed me outside of basketball more than it has inside of basketball.The 28-year-old has averaged 13.1 points and 5.6 rebounds per game with a 17.8 player efficiency rating in eight seasons since being drafted 21st overall out of California in 2008 by the then-New Jersey Nets. He finished sixth in sixth man of the year voting last season after averaging 17 points and six rebounds per game for the 30-52 Pelicans.Houston came into the weekend meeting with center/power forward?Horford,?but once he agreed to a deal with Boston, the Rockets moved along in filling their needs.The Rockets sought a power forward in free agency and got one in Anderson, whom they have sought for several years.Finding another outside shooter to complement newly hired coach Mike DAntonis up-tempo offensive system was next.In addition to agreeing to terms with Anderson, the Rockets also reached a deal with guard?Eric Gordon,?a source told ESPNs Chris Broussard.Information from ESPNs Calvin Watkins and Justin Verrier was used in this report. Cheap Custom 76ers Jersey . "Thank you for the warm welcome," Beckham said on an 80-degree February morning. In this case, it was soccer weather. The sport moved a step closer to returning to South Florida on Wednesday, when Beckham confirmed he has exercised his option to purchase a Major League Soccer expansion franchise in Miami. Custom Moses Malone Jersey . -- Three close looks at the bucket, three misses. http://www.custom76ersjersey.com/ . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in the AL wild-card race. Custom 76ers T-shirts . Didier Drogba gave away the penalty that put Senegal one goal away from a major upset, but the veteran striker will get another chance -- probably his last -- at the World Cup after Salomon Kalous injury-time strike sealed the Ivorians place in Brazil next year. Wholesale Custom 76ers Shirts . Kuznetsov, who was selected by the Capitals in the first round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, has been playing for his hometown team Chelyabinsk Traktor of the KHL. OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- As teammates shouted We got your back, Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco acknowledged he was taken aback by comments from former teammate Ray Lewis, who called out the former Super Bowl MVP for a lack of passion for the game.Its a little surprising coming from Ray, Flacco said after Fridays practice. But its been something Ive dealt with probably back before high school. Its just part of my personality. When things are going good, its questioned as if its a good thing. When things arent going as well as you might like them to be, its always a question as to whether my personality is that of one that fits what an NFL quarterback should be. Its not anything Im not used to. But it is a little bit different coming from Ray.On Thursday, Lewis told Fox Sports 1 that Flaccos emotionless approach to football is a reason for the quarterbacks inconsistency. Flacco ranks 29th in the NFL in passer rating (78.3) this season, throwing as many interceptions (nine) as touchdowns.Gifted? Absolutely. Passionate about what he do? Ive never seen that, Lewis said. I dont know what that looks like.Lewis comments struck a nerve in the Ravens locker room and seemed to galvanize many players leading up to Sundays high-profile road game against the Cowboys.Safety Eric Weddle and cornerback Jimmy Smith could be heard shouting support in the background while Flacco spoke to reporters. Flacco smiled when he heard the uproar in the locker room.Its just odd that you hear Ray Lewis saying something, Weddle said. Joe Flacco won you a Super Bowl; did you forget about that?Flacco helped Lewis and the Ravens to the Super Bowl in 2012 with a nearly unprecedented postseason run. He joined Joe Montana as the only players to produce 11 touchdowns and zero interceptions in the playoffs.In addressing Lewis comments, Flacco never took a shot at the player who has a statue outside M&T Bank Stadium. Flacco initially didnt see what Lewis said about him, but he decided to watch after coach John Harbaugh brought it up Friday morning.You want to be able to listen to what he says and all that, Flacco said. I know he hasnt been heere for a while.dddddddddddd We want him to feel a part of this place. We want him to come around.Wide receiver Steve Smith Sr.?showed respect for the future Hall of Fame linebacker, saying Lewis voice carries weight. But he also pointed out that time has passed and players change.Lewis has been away from the Ravens locker room for four years, which is nearly as long as he was teammates with Flacco (2008-12).You dont play this game this long and be able to accomplish some of the things that Joe Flacco, Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, all the great guys that have played with the Baltimore Ravens that Ive admired, you dont play this long without having a drive or a passion for the game, Smith said.Weddle was not as restrained when it came to Lewis.We love Joe. Hes our guy, Weddle said. Hes a great teammate, professional, leads, everything you want. Its kind of irrelevant. We dont really care what the outside thinks. For an old teammate to say that, its just like, Dont you have something better to talk about? I guess he didnt.Flacco has often been called Joe Cool for his stoic and quiet demeanor. But members in the organization pointed out that Flacco shows his passion in different ways. He never missed a game until his eighth season, putting together the fifth-longest streak for an NFL quarterback. When he tore two ligaments in his knee last November, he stayed in the game to finish out the final few plays. In getting back from the knee injury, he never missed a day of rehab.I think everybody expresses their passion in different ways, Harbaugh said. Youve got a locker room full of guys and an office full of coaches. Everybody is different. Every personality is different. Every single guy does their thing in a different way, but every single guy here cares deeply and works very hard and wants to be great at what they do.Will Flacco call Lewis to address the comments?Probably not, Flacco said. Me and Ray are going to cross paths again. It might be brought up. It might not. Who knows? ' ' '