Decisions. Decisions. Decisions.

Let's evaluate, Sergio Leone-style.

Where do we start? With Jets coach Rex Ryan's naming serial malcontent Santonio Holmes as a team captain.

The reasoning behind the move was blindingly obvious:

If you take a gamble on selfish talent — and with Holmes the Jets did to the tune of $45 million over five years — you have to find a way to get the me-first individual to buy into the team concept that's vital for winning in the NFL.

Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers had some success with the wide receiver by keeping him on a tight leash. Ryan, the ultimate "players' coach," decided to take a different tack, using kid gloves with Holmes and in August even naming him a captain. The idea: Treat a poor-character guy as though he were a great-character guy, and maybe — just maybe — he'll morph into one.

Instead, Holmes proved a constant distraction, getting into feuds with fellow Jets, worrying about his personal success rather than the club's and finally, in the Jets' last regular-season contest, quitting on his teammates with the game — and the season — on the line.

The "C" Holmes sported on his uniform was supposed to stand for captain. According to a teammate, it more accurately stood for "cancer."

Ryan's ugly decision is likely to have continuing ramifications as Holmes is expected back next season. That's going to be one joyous locker room.

• • •

It's uncertain whether San Diego left guard Kris Dielman will be back next season, but it's clear he wants to be — even if it means risking his central processing unit.

Dielman, in his first interview since being placed on injured-reserved after a serious concussion, said he would risk his health to pursue an NFL championship.

"Yeah, I think so," said Dielman, who went on to say what a Super Bowl ring would mean to him. "[But] I've got some other people who probably wouldn't agree."

I imagine those others include Dielman's wife and two young sons, who watched Dielman get clobbered against the Jets on Oct. 23 but continue to play because his banged-up team was out of offensive linemen.

For his dedication, the eight-year veteran was rewarded with a grand mal seizure on the flight home and was hospitalized overnight.

"This was definitely a scare," Dielman said. "Waking up in the hospital with my wife standing over me, that was pretty scary. I don't scare easy, but that was something different."

Here's hoping that he's scared enough to reconsider his priorities and change what, if it stands, would be a very bad decision, indeed.

• • •

Ryan Clark was poised to make a bad decision until Mike Tomlin took it out of his hands with a good one.

Clark, a Steelers safety, has sickle cell trait, which can cause problems in altitude — such as the mile-high city of Denver, where today Pittsburgh takes on the Broncos in an AFC wild-card contest.

In a 2007 game in Denver, Clark became violently ill and lost his spleen and gallbladder — as well as 30 pounds — because of deprivation of oxygen to his major organs. Despite that, Clark said he wanted to play today and was planning on it until Tomlin gave him the word: No.

Make that NO.

Recalled Clark: "He said he wouldn't have let his son play and so I'm not playing either."

That's not only a good decision, it's a great criterion.

Contact Jim Gordon at gjames43@msn.com.