How New York Giants Can Salvage What's Left of the Eli Manning Era

If Eli Manning is still the New York Giants' quarterback of the foreseeable future, there's one thing fans should consider: benching him for the last four games of the 2014 season.

The idea may be shocking to some. Manning has completed passes at a career-high rate this season (63.0), displaying improved decision-making skills in a totally revamped offense under rookie coordinator Ben McAdoo.

YEAR	Comp. %
2004	48.2
2005	52.8
2006	57.7
2007	56.1
2008	60.3
2009	62.3
2010	62.9
2011	61.0
2012	59.9
2013	57.5
2014	63.0

But the 3-9 Giants should still bench their starting quarterback—not because of his play, but because he is in imminent danger taking snaps behind the Giants' ragtag offensive line. Already, Manning has weathered 26 sacks and countless hits this season. It would be irresponsible for the franchise to put its most prized investment on the field like a piñata for four more Sundays.

Anyone who has watched a Giants game over the last decade knows Manning gives New York its best chance to win. While some "fans" celebrate losses now that Big Blue's playoff bubble has officially burst—since each failure from here on out subsequently boosts New York's 2015 draft position—Tom Coughlin isn't paid millions to see how sweet of a draft spot he can snag.

That means the decision to bench Manning would probably have to come from Coughlin's superiors, most likely general manager Jerry Reese.

Might the Giants then shy away from a Manning-benching if it tips their hand on Coughlin's future as head coach? It seems like a silly game to play when a 33-year-old passer's welfare is on the line. Whoever winds up in charge next season will want a fully functioning franchise quarterback handy right away.

It's a worthy concern if you're a GM who has watched much of his viable personnel fall by the wayside this season. The body count is now up to 20 on the Giants' injured reserve list. Severe injuries have already stolen the seasons of several New York stars, such as wide receiver Victor Cruz, linebacker Jon Beason, cornerback Prince Amukamara and defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka.

After the Giants literally ran out of reserve offensive linemen last weekend, who's to say Manning will be spared?

For those who fret over records, such as Manning's longest active consecutive starts streak, what sounds better to you: 163 consecutive starts or 164 consecutive starts and a season-ending surgery?

Either way, the streak's over.

Allow Manning's ankle fracture in Week 17 of last season to serve as a fair warning.

I see nothing unsportsmanlike about the Giants benching their starting quarterback to preserve his health for next season. In fact, I think we'd see this a lot more often if it was common for two-time Super Bowl MVPs to miss the playoffs. To me, it's no different than a division champion sitting its starters the final weeks of the season to save them for the playoffs.

Of course, the Giants also have to worry about the ramifications a Manning-benching would have on ticket sales. New York already appears to be struggling in that department, however, after MetLife Stadium was flooded with San Francisco and Dallas fans the last two home games.

Adding to the legitimacy of a possible Manning-benching is the Ryan Nassib situation. Many fans want to see the 2013 fourth-round selection in action, especially after the second-year pro was able to wrestle the lone backup position away from Curtis Painter in the preseason.

Giving Nassib this four-game audition is a win-win scenario for the Giants. If he does poorly and the team collapses without Manning, New York will lock up a top draft pick. If Nassib exceeds expectations and wins two or three games, perhaps his name heats up on the trade market. After all, not too long ago, some suggested Nassib was more talented than any of the quarterbacks in the 2014 draft class.

Either way, at the end of the season, Manning would be healthy and the Giants would be in prime position to fortify what's left of his era with one of the best offensive linemen in next year's draft.

Kevin Boilard writes about the New York Giants at Bleacher Report.