Super Bowl MVP gets keys to new Corvette

Joe Flacco, 28-year-old Super Bowl MVP, got an extra surprise on Sunday after receiving his trip to Disneyland and a football signed by a boatload of pros. He was handed the keys to a new Corvette Stingray.

Flacco was 22 for 33 passing in the game with 287 yards, three touchdowns and no picks.

The car was provided by Banner Chevrolet in New Orleans to the MVP from dealership owner Rick Flick. Banner took a big hit during Hurricane Katrina, losing its entire inventory of 650 new Chevys and 120 pre-owned vehicles. The Super Bowl MVP also received the Pete Rozelle Trophy, made by Tiffany & Co.

“Banner Chevrolet and the entire city of New Orleans have been through so much since the storm, we felt this was a small gesture to bring the comeback story full circle,” said Alan Batey, GM vice president of U.S. sales, service and marketing. “With the Super Bowl in his backyard, we couldn't think of a better guy to have the honor of awarding the MVP with his Corvette Stingray.”

Forbes did a little calculator work and found that if Flacco keeps the Vette, he'll owe about $27,500 in taxes on the gift, if he doesn't donate the car to charity, as athletes in his position have done in the past. Though, we're pretty sure Flacco isn't worried about the extra change since the free agent is predicted to make more than $10 million per year on his next contract. Let's see, $10 million divided by $60,000, yeah he could afford a few Stingrays.

For the few of you who haven't heard the rundown on the new Vette, it sports the company's new V8, nostalgically dubbed “LT1” and puts down 450 hp and 450 lb-ft to the rear wheels. It generates 1 g of grip during cornering and can sprint to 60 mph in less than 4 seconds. We saw the reveal at the Detroit auto show in January and we will see the convertible at the Geneva motor show in March.

By Jake Lingeman