Saquon Barkley tells Jason and Travis Kelce that Eli Manning threw GRASS in his mouth after being pranked as a Giants rookie: 'He got me one time'

Saquon Barkley has opened up on the worst pranks he experienced as a rookie for the New York Giants - with Eli Manning responsible for the most bizarre.

Barkley, who signed a three-year, $37.75million contract with the Philadelphia Eagles earlier this month, spent six seasons with the Giants after they selected him with the second overall pick at the 2018 NFL Draft.

The running back earned two Pro-Bowl selections during his time in New York, where he developed from a young 22-year-old prospect to one of the league's standout players at 27.

During an appearance on Travis and Jason Kelce's New Heights podcast, Barkley recalled his days as a rookie for the Giants, where two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback Manning took on the role of chief prankster. 

After being asked about the best stunts that were pulled on him as a rookie, he told the Kelce brothers: 'Eli was a little prankster. He got me one time. He did this thing where he threw grass in my mouth.

'He's sitting and he's like "my tooth's been hurting me a little bit". Like out of nowhere, too. We're in practice and I'm like "bro you've got a lot of money, you probably should go get that checked out".

'He goes "no, I'm going to show you where it is" and then just threw grass in my mouth. At that moment he just started laughing and stuff. That's probably my only prank.'

Travis and Jason were left baffled by Manning's unusual prank, but Barkley has since taken a leaf out of his book when sharing a locker room with rookies himself. 

'I stole this from him and I'll do it to the rookies,' he continued. 'I'll get the rookies where they'll put the water bottle [down] and then twist it so it's not really on when you think it's on, and then the rookies drink it. He never really got me but I saw him do it.'

Barkley is gearing up for a new chapter in Philadelphia, where the elder Kelce brother recently called time on his NFL career after 13 seasons with the Eagles.

Jason joked about his frustration with the former Giants man heading to Philly as soon as he bowed out from the sport on a previous edition of New Heights, claiming he could miss an 'outstanding season' at Lincoln Financial Field. 

And after waving goodbye to New York, Barkley shared a savage reaction from his daughter, Jada, who roasted his former team after he signed for the Eagles.

Barkley revealed in an interview with his new team: 'When I told her that we were going to Philly, she kinda was just like "Does that mean we're gonna win now?"' 

He only managed one winning season with the Giants, when they went 9-7-1 in 2022.

That was the only season that Barkley made the playoffs with New York as they beat the Minnesota Vikings before falling to the Eagles in the divisional round.

Philadelphia has been much better than their divisional rivals as of late - making the Super Bowl twice in the last six seasons.