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Calvin Pace was one of three veterans released by the Jets on Tuesday.

(Photo by William Perlman/The Star-Ledger)

In an effort to get themselves underneath an encumbering salary cap situation, the Jets parted ways with veteran linebacker Bart Scott, safety Eric Smith, outside linebacker Calvin Pace and tackle Jason Smith today, the team announced.

Tight end Josh Baker, who spent the season on injured reserve, was also waived.

The move should provide the team roughly $31 million in salary cap relief and place them a few million below the cap limit for next year, which, although still undetermined, will sit around $121 million. The team also has $3.4 million in additional cap space that carries over from 2012.

Each transaction was expected, likely part of the “detailed” plan laid out by previous general manager Mike Tannenbaum, one that he mentioned several times after his dismissal in December.

All of the players released, Eric Smith ($3 million), Scott ($7.15 million), Pace ($8.56 million) and Jason Smith ($12,000,000) carried gaudy numbers against the cap in 2013 with little to no penalty for being cut. Eric Smith, Scott and Pace were also near, or over the age of 30.

Those three, staples of Rex Ryan’s first four years as head coach of the Jets, made a combined 167 starts for the team.

“Every one of these players was a major contributor to our football team,” said Ryan in a statement. “I was very impressed with Jason this past season while Bart, Calvin and Eric have been an instrumental part of our defense for the past four years. Josh came in as an undrafted free agent and earned a spot on our roster. They have the work ethic and attitude that you look for in players and they will always be New York Jets. It was an honor to coach each of these men. They are tremendous people as well as outstanding football players.”

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