Gase: It was ‘just our decision’ to bench Trumaine

As if their miserable 23-3 loss to the Browns on Monday night wasn’t enough of an insult, the Jets afterward insulted everyone’s intelligence with a barrage of non-answers and nontruths about the reason their No. 1 cornerback, Trumaine Johnson, was benched for nearly the entire game. Johnson, who was signed before last season to a five-year, $72.5 million contract with $45 million in guaranteed money, stood on the sideline in uniform while Browns receiver Odell Beckham Jr. caught six passes for 161 yards and a touchdown.

Meanwhile, Nate Hairston, who was acquired in a low-profile trade with the Colts in late August, started in the place of Johnson.

“That was just our decision,’’ coach Adam Gase said when asked why Johnson didn’t play.

“We just decided not to play him,’’ Gase said when asked if Johnson “wasn’t good enough’’ to play.

Actually, not good enough were those non-answers by a coach who owes his fan base a reason why the second highest-paid player on his defense was dressed in uniform, taking up a valuable game-day roster spot and not playing until garbage time. Johnson entered with 3:27 left when Hairston was injured.

Johnson said, “You would have to go ask coach Gase and my DB coach [Dennard Wilson]’’ when asked why he hardly played.

“I was going with the [starters] back and forth through the whole week in practice,’’ Johnson said. “I dressed up, so I figured I was going to play. I didn’t play. Of course, I’m upset, but it’s not about me. I was just there supporting my guys out there today.’’

Johnson said “there wasn’t no final word’’ from Gase or Wilson that he wasn’t going to play.

Johnson said he hadn’t spoken to Gase or Wilson on Monday after his benching. When asked if he’ll seek answers, Johnson said, “I’ll talk them face-to-face and go from there.’’

When safety Jamal Adams was asked when he was aware Johnson wasn’t going to play, he said, “When he didn’t go out there [Monday night].’’

Then Adams added, “That’s not my place to comment. That the coaches’ place, and that’s my brother Trumaine’s place to talk about it.’’