Sean Landeta in Nassau: Giants will win

Former New York Giants punter Sean Landeta joined Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano to commemorate the team's first Super Bowl victory 25 years ago Wednesday and to support its bid this year for a fourth NFL championship.

"I predict a New York victory . . . [at] this year's rematch of one of the most exciting Super Bowls in recent memory [in 2008]," said Landeta, a North Hempstead Town resident.

Mangano predicted that the Feb. 5 game would prompt a spike in county sales tax revenue.

"This matchup is as good as it gets from a Super Bowl retail merchandise and restaurant perspective," Mangano said at a news conference. "Fans will buy everything from food and beverages to new televisions, furniture, team paraphernalia and decorations. It's a good shot in the arm for our economy."

The cash-strapped county faces an estimated $310-million budget gap this year and its finances are under the control of a state monitoring board.

Landeta gave Mangano a commemorative helmet and football from the 2008 upset of the New England Patriots that brought the Giants a third Super Bowl win.

Sparkling on Landeta's fingers were Super Bowl rings from 1987 and 1991, when the Giants defeated Buffalo and Denver, respectively.

Landeta, 50, played for the Giants from 1985 to 1993. Subsequently he played for both the Los Angeles and St. Louis Rams, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Green Bay Packers and the Philadelphia Eagles. He sometimes works with the Giants and Eagles organizations at nonfield functions. He also does guest media shows.

Mangano said the County Executive and Legislative Building will be lit blue and red from Wednesday until the night of the Super Bowl.