Cadillac will still give a free car to MVP

Despite grim economic times for the auto industry, Cadillac will still offer a free car to this year's most valuable NFL player.

The luxury car maker, part of troubled General Motors, will still sponsor the Super Bowl post-game show, said David Caldwell, a Cadillac spokesman. In a nod to lean times, the company has cut back on advertising during the game, shelved its go-cart race, foregone outdoor marketing displays, and offered fewer Cadillac courtesy cars to ferry bigwigs.

Recession aside, what's an MVP without a free Caddy? Here's a list of past winners, and the car they picked. Not suprisingly, the Escalade has topped the list. "These are big guys with families, so the Escalade works for them," Caldwell said.

2002 - New Orleans,  SB XXXVI        Tom Brady wins MVP, selects Cadillac Escalade
2003 - San Diego,  SB XXXVII        Dexter Jackson (Tampa) selects Escalade
2004 - Houston, SB XXXVIII        Tom Brady selects Cadillac XLR Roadster
2005 - Jacksonville SB XXXIX        Deion Branch (NE) selects Cadillac XLR Roadster
2006 - Detroit SB XL                Hines Ward (Pitt) selects Cadillac Escalade
2007 - Miami SB XLI                Peyton Manning (Indy) selects Cadillac Escalade
2008 - Phoenix SB XLII                Eli Manning (NY) selects Cadillac Escalade

-Asjylyn Loder, Times staff writer