Tiki's Take: Eagles need to bench Michael Vick

• Philadelphia quarterback committing too many turnovers to retain job
• Andy Reid could lose locker room if he doesn't make a switch
• Who are the four toughest Giants Barber played with?

What do you do when one of your best players is also your biggest liability?

That is the Michael Vick dilemma in Philadelphia after two fumbles Sunday — coughing up the ball while going in for a score is the cardinal sin of a ball carrier and was the play that cost the Eagles the game. It also forced Vick once again to have to lead the Eagles to a go-ahead score late in a close game — only this time it wasn't enough against the Pittsburgh Steelers. This time, Ben Roethlisberger got the last licks and methodically moved into scoring position to set up the game-winning field goal as the clock expired.

At 3-2, and still sitting atop the NFC East and having survived some harrowingly close games, the Eagles will talk about how resilient they have proven to be in spite of Vick's league-leading 11 turnovers. Andy Reid will likely say that Vick is the Eagles' best option because he has so much upside and young backup quarterback Nick Foles is unproven.

The heroics of Vick, who posted a 104.1 passer rating against Pittsburgh (fumbles don't count in the rating incidentally) are undeniable. However, he wouldn't need them if it wasn't for Vick himself. Let's call him the benefactor of his own failures.

But the real question is can Reid afford to potentially let one man account for 35 turnovers this year, Vick's current pace?

Vick never has been a top-tier quarterback. Exciting as heck, yes, with flashes of brilliance. But in order to go to the ultimate level in the NFL these days, ball security is king. Look no further than Eli Manning, Vick's divisional nemesis.

When Manning threw three first-quarter interceptions against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers earlier this year, there was not one question about benching him because the Giants trust him with the ball.

The last thing a team needs is doubt and dissension. Confidence and trust in the plan — and the players executing it — are the underlying building blocks to wins and loses. But the Philly locker room could face disruption because players will be asked about Vick's job security.

To a man, the Eagles will outwardly stand behind Vick. But make no mistake, the psyche of the team is changing. Maybe it'll start with a group of two or three guys, disgruntled for one reason or another (maybe they're not getting enough balls thrown their way).

After a couple more weeks of the same, it'll be 15 to 20 guys. And if the Eagles lose games they're supposed to win, the outward support will be gone. If a change isn't made, faith in Reid will start to evaporate.

It's time to put Vick on the bench. Reid won't do it — it's too bold of a move. However, for the first time in his career in Philadelphia, his job depends on the success of this team and, in particular, Vick.

This is actually what a head coach is paid for, not just the X's and O's, but finding a way to get his best players to be team leaders and keeping his team on the same page. Reid must do something because turnover issues don't fix themselves. He must put Vick in a position to be smarter with the football or put him in a nice comfy position holding a clipboard.

Speaking of fumbles, I couldn't help but share in the the collective "ugh" after Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw's opening-carry fumble against the Cleveland Browns led to a Trent Richardson touchdown for the Cleveland Browns.

Bradshaw could have gone into the tank and landed on the bench like rookie David Wilson did in Week 1. But coach Tom Coughlin knows a thing or two about his starting back — like he's tough as an ox. Of course, I'm talking about the countless ankle, knee — heck, whole body — pains that Bradshaw has constantly played with and through. But more importantly, I'm talking about his mental toughness.

Lots of guys make mistakes and implode. Bradshaw made a big one but instead went on a tear, logging his first 200-yard rushing game while scoring a rushing touchdown. It's a character trait that makes me think about some of the toughest offensive Giants that I ever played with:

— Wide receiver Ike Hilliard: There are many instances that I could point to, including returning from a broken sternum suffered in a game vs. the Eagles. But the one I will never forget was a shot he took to the back of his head and neck early in our rookie year in 1997. Clearly, he was concussed on the play and in obvious pain. But as he always did, Hilliard got up and ran to the sideline. It was only later that we found out he had broken his neck. Hilliard went on the play eight more seasons.

— Offensive lineman Rich Seubert: I remember the moment as vividly as if it had just happened. It was a stretch play to the left that was blocked incorrectly, and I was forced to cut into the line of scrimmage to get some positive yardage. Only, I got blindsided and lifted into the air landing directly on Seubert's lower leg. I didn't hear or feel his tibia or fibula shatter, but I did hear the screaming. Not only did Seubert come back, he helped Giants running backs rush for 2,000-plus yards for four consecutive years.

— Tight end Jeremy Shockey: Say what you want about Shock, but there was no one better at doing it all than him. Yes, he was a great receiver because he was often an athletic mismatch against opposing linebackers. But what is less appreciated was his willingness to block 280-pound defensive ends and get into the scrum of the interior line of scrimmage to seal edges. Plus, who doesn't love a pass catcher who lowers his shoulder and steps on defenders chests as he keeps on trucking?

— Manning: He may be the toughest Giant yet, physically and mentally. We've all seen him get tossed around, sacked and beaten up. But he always gets up, saunters back to the huddle and keeps on going. More importantly, his mind is impenetrable. When he lost his first eight games in fairly ugly fashion, he focused and got better. When he got booed and disparaged (even by me), he focused and got better. When he won a Super Bowl, he focused and got better. No matter what happens to him — good, bad or indifferent — he focuses and keeps going forward. That's a mental toughness that can't be measured.

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(Tiki Barber, the former New York Giants Pro Bowl running back, will provide weekly insight on the NFL as an analyst for USA TODAY Sports. His column will appear online each Monday and occasionally during the week. Follow him @TikiBarber.)