Malcolm Butler gets MVP truck

ByMike Reiss ESPN logo
Wednesday, February 11, 2015

NORWOOD, Mass. -- Super Bowl hero Malcolm Butler smiled to the cameras and reached out his hands to mimic an interception in front of the new red Chevrolet Colorado truck he received Tuesday.

It was a lighthearted moment as Butler happily took ownership of the truck thanks to New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's generosity.

Brady, as the MVP of Super Bowl XLIX, was supposed to drive away with the truck. But Brady asked Chevrolet if Butler could have the vehicle instead, and the official presentation took place Tuesday about eight miles north of the team's home stadium at a car dealership.

"Tom is a great guy for doing that," Butler said. "We had a meeting, and he was just like 'Congratulations on the big play. You can get the keys to that truck.' ... I couldn't have done all that without my teammates, so I'm just thankful to have the truck."

Butler was asked if he's a "truck guy." He sparked laughter among the assembled media when he replied, "I think I am now."

An undrafted free agent from West Alabama, Butler has had a whirlwind nine days since the Super Bowl, a stretch that has included attending the Grammys.

"I'm enjoying the moment," he said. "Words can't explain how my life has changed and how good things have been happening to me. I'm very overwhelmed."

He was asked how he plans to keep himself motivated in the future.

"I just don't want one play to describe me as a player," he said. "I have more to prove. Just stay humble about it. I have to get back to work soon to get ready for this season. I don't have much time for playing."

Taking the truck won't come free to Butler. If he makes the Patriots next year, he will be in the top tax bracket and will pay more than $15,000 in federal and state income tax on the truck, according to Robert Raiola, an accountant who specializes in sports tax management at O'Connor Davies in New Jersey. That's based on the truck's fully loaded retail value of about $35,000.

A GM spokesman told ESPN.com that the company wasn't giving Butler anything additional to ease his tax liability.

Information from ESPN's Darren Rovell was used in this report.

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