"A little over a month after Thomas Jones gained one of the biggest yards of his career, the running back's three-year run with the Jets is over.

Jones' release is all but a formality now. The Daily News has learned that Jets have decided to part ways with their leading rusher.

Jones, 31, is set to make a $3 million bonus to go along with the $2.8 million salary he is supposed to be paid this season. Instead of paying Jones that type of money, the Jets are ready to go with second-year running back Shonn Greene as their feature back, with

Leon Washington expected to be fully recovered from a broken leg by the time the season starts. Jones will join LaDainian Tomlinson and Brian Westbrook as high-profile 30-and-over running backs who have been cut recently.

A day after general manager Mike .Tannenbaum basically sounded like he was bidding Jones farewell and thanking him for his service, coach Rex Ryan praised Jones for gaining a first down on a game-clinching fourth-and-1 at the end of the Jets' 17-14 win in San Diego in the AFC .divisional playoff.

"Thomas had one of the best years he has ever had, might be his best, over 1,400 yards rushing, scored a ton of touchdowns," Ryan said. "And when it was all said and done, we had to win the game against San Diego on a fourth-and-1 and we gave it to Thomas. He is a great player, there are tough decisions that our organization is going to be faced with.""