The Sports Leader Bulletin: Niners’ legitimacy in wide open NFC, Vitello adds to his experience-wealthy staff

At long last, the 49ers have reached their bye week. After 13 straight weeks, San Francisco gets to reset with a more than impressive given the circumstances 9-4 record. But the break doesn’t come free of drama. The bizarre, annoying, and frankly embarrassing Brandon Aiyuk saga continues to make headlines. Steve Young joined Murph & Markus on Wednesday, he weighed in on the current fragmented relationship between the Niners and their 2020 first round pick. Spoiler alert, it may not be salvageable. 

Niners fans have been grappling with the legitimacy of the often puzzling 2025 squad since the beginning of November. That’s when the post Fred Warner identity began to take shape. A hodge podge of misfits and youth quilted into a defense that seems to get stronger every week. An offense rediscovering its identity with Brock Purdy back at the helm. And, in a year where the NFC and the NFL as a whole seems to be as wide open as any in recent history, San Francisco just might have the best coaching staff of the contenders. 

But the 49ers still have their flaws, and it’s a solid handful of flaws. The Nick Bosa and Fred Warner sized holes aren’t going away just because of a few good defensive performances. As promising as the 9-4 record and the current playoff standing are, trepidation is more than understandable at this point. 

Brian Murphy wrote about the conundrum in this week’s Jock Blog. Are the Ninere for real? Heck yes, according to Murph. Read it here: 

On to the Giants. First year manager Tony Vitello continues to assemble his staff as the winter meetings get underway. It seems as though Vitello, whose unprecedented hire raised many reasonable questions about who he might surround himself with, has opted to go with supreme experience to supplement his lack of pro experience. Few in the sport have more years under their belt than Ron Washington. On Thursday morning, the Giants announced that Washington would join Vitello and the Giants as an infield instructor, where he’s gained fame around the sport in recent years for his meticulous drills gaining viral status in Atlanta and Anaheim. 

Zack Minasian joined Murph & Markus on Thursday morning. The Giants’ General Manager made the Washington hire official, and highlighted how Vitello was leading the charge in the hiring process.

Lastly, Dieter Kurtenbach penned a column taking on the hot button Barry Bonds hall of fame issue ahead of Bonds’ veteran’s committee candidacy. To say it had Bay Are fans divided would be an understatement.