The Jets yesterday parted ways for good with safety Reggie Tongue, whose contract was terminated.

This is the second time Tongue has been released by the team since the end of the season. The first time was so the club could avoid paying him a roster bonus. He was re-signed after that. Yesterday, though, marks the end.

Tongue, a standup character in the locker room, was the culprit in some key poor plays last season, starting with being the 12th man on the field on a Patriots punt in Foxboro, thus allowing the Patriots to retain possession and eventually score in a tight game the Jets lost.

He, too, bit on the Jerome Bettis halfback option pass in Pittsburgh during the regular season, a TD pass that resulted in a Steeler victory.

Tongue, who started all 16 games last season, his only with the team, did return a Ben Roethlisberger INT for a Jets’ playoff record 85 yards in the teams’ playoff rematch.

Tongue became expendable with the influx of youth the Jets have at the position, including starter Erik Coleman, the steal of the 2004 draft.