Who is Tom Brady giving his Super Bowl truck to?
After leading the Patriots to their fourth Super Bowl championship and capturing a third Super Bowl MVP, Tom Brady is giving away the big prize that came with the award, but to who?
In one gesture of gratitude, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, summed up what he thought of winning his third Super Bowl MVP award, tying him with his idol Joe Montana for most all-time.
Been there. Done that.
Brady will reportedly give his brand new Chevy to his teammate Malcolm Butler, who made the game-saving interception on the Patriots goal line with 20 seconds left in the game, according to a Boston-area sports talk-radio station WEEI-FM.
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At the Super Bowl, the game’s MVP is presented with a vehicle – Brady was given a brand new Chevrolet Colorado after his team’s triumph. According to Business Insider, the truck has a retail price of $35,000, but do not expect this pickup to be featured in the Brady-household garage.
“I would love to give him the truck. I would love to do that. I’m going to figure out how to make that work,” Brady said during his interview on WEEI’s morning show.
There are specific laws in place that facilitate how a car can be legally gifted. However, between Brady’s legal team and a salary that could purchase a whole lot of Chevys, Butler might as well start shopping for his favorite scented air-freshener.
According to Forbes, Brady and his supermodel wife Gisele Bündchen pulled in over $80 million combined in 2013. Brady alone has earned over $150 million from his pro career, in addition to the millions he has made in endorsements, according to Business Insider.
By contrast Butler only earned the league minimum salary as an undrafted free-agent this season, which was a comparatively modest $420,000, according to Business Insider.
Butler stands to earn $510,000 if he makes the Patriots roster next season, but none of his salary is guaranteed. Butler will have to fight for a roster spot again just as he did this season, so a $35,000 car is still a sizable gift for the young player.
In coach Bill Belichick’s world nothing is guaranteed. Brady’s own father told the NFL Network when Belichick can get similar production from a back-up for a dollar less, then even the legendary Brady could be looking for a new job.
“There are no sacred cows in the NFL.” Tom Brady Senior told the NFL Network. “If Bill Belichick doesn’t want him anymore, then Bill Belichick will get rid of him.”
Perhaps Brady just is not a pickup kind of guy. He was awarded a Cadillac Escalade after the Patriots prevailed in Super Bowl XXXVIII back in 2004. From 2004 through 2009 all of the Super Bowl MVP’s were given Cadillacs.
From 2011 through this year, the big game’s best player has been given a Chevrolet. The Packers’ Aaron Rodgers was given a brand new Camaro in 2011. Quarterbacks Eli Manning and Joe Flacco were given Corvettes in 2012 and 2013 respectively. Last year, Malcolm Smith of the Seahawks received a Chevy Silverado. Smith had previously driven a Chevy Tahoe, according to the Sporting News, before capturing the award in Super Bowl XLVIII.
Winning the MVP and a car does not come without strings attached. After Joe Flacco and the Ravens won in 2013, Forbes broke down the tax implications for Flacco being given the Corvette, which was valued at over $60,000. If he sold it for profit he would have then been not be able to deduct the sale of the car on his income taxes and have to pay 15 percent on the gain.
The only MVP in this period to not drive away from the stadium in a new ride after winning on the game’s biggest stage was Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints in 2010. According to the sports blog SB Nation, General Motors’ Cadillac had ended its eight year promotional giveaway for the Super Bowl for the 2010 postseason. GM wouldn’t begin their Chevrolet promotion until a year later.
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