~ The former Southeast Missouri State star will return kickoffs for St. Louis.

The St. Louis Rams finally realized that Southeast Missouri State product Willie Ponder may be a good fit after all.

The Rams on Tuesday signed Ponder, who had been cut by the Seattle Seahawks on Oct. 25, through this season.

The signing was reported by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on its Web site. The newspaper also reported that the Rams cut J.R. Reed, who averaged 21 yards per return on three tries Sunday and has a season average of 20.4 per return on 17 returns.

The Rams as a team average 20.0 yards per return on 36 attempts.

Despite being out of the league for three weekends, Ponder ranks 18th in the NFL this season with an average of 23.5 yards per return on 25 returns.

Ponder, who was released when the Seahawks signed a backup quarterback after Matt Hasselbeck's injury, led the league in 2004 with an average of 26.9 yards per return for the New York Giants. He followed that with an average of 25.9 yards in 2005 to rank seventh in the NFL.

He had a return for a touchdown in each of those seasons -- returning a 95-yarder against Arizona in 2005 and a 91-yarder against Pittsburgh in 2004.

Ponder is expected to assume the return duties immediately, the Post-Dispatch reported.

In other moves reported by the newspaper: left tackle Orlando Pace and cornerback Travis Fisher were placed on the injured reserve list, ending their seasons; defensive end Tony Bryant was released along with Reed; and offensive lineman Adam Haayer, cornerback Chidi Iwuoma and defensive end Eric Moore were signed along with Ponder.