Holmberg's Morning Sickness – November 6, 2025

Thursdays w/ Former Dallas Cowboy OLineman Dale Hellestrae: Kalil Divorce Bombshell, Cardinals’ Kyler Murray Saga, NFL Week 10 Picks & More

Overview

This episode of "Holmberg's Morning Sickness" features the regular Thursday segment with former Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman Dale Hellestrae. The crew—John Holmberg, Brady Bogen, Bret Vesely, and Dick Toledo—tackles the jaw-dropping Matt Kalil divorce story, scrutinizes the Dallas Cowboys’ soft culture, dives into the Arizona Cardinals’ drama with Kyler Murray, and closes out with their sports gambling picks for NFL Week 10. The show is its signature irreverent self, mixing locker room stories and sports analysis with plenty of friendly mockery.

Main Topics & Discussion Points

1. The Matt Kalil Divorce Bombshell

(05:26 – 08:54)

• What Happened:
  The show opens with incredulity over the viral podcast interview by Matt Kalil’s ex-wife, in which she claims the couple’s sex life broke apart because “his penis was like three Coke cans stacked on top of each other.”

  • John Holmberg jokes: “Is that the greatest divorce you’ve ever heard in your life?” (06:17)
  • The ex-wife allegedly even considered liposuction for “relief.” The studio erupts in laughter and disbelief.

• Locker Room Comparisons:
  Dale and John riff on infamous well-endowed athletes, including Michael Irvin and Sam Cassell, sharing locker room stories about the awkwardness and bravado.

  • Dale: “There are four guys in here that I can promise you will never, ever, ever have that issue.” (06:45)
  • John, deadpan: “Saying the words ‘it was uncomfortable having sex with him’ might happen, but not for the same reason, right?” (06:51)

• Memorable Anecdote:
  Dale segues to a clean but hilarious story about his young grandson comparing their “wieners,” which the show’s hosts use as further comic fodder.

  • Dale, quoting his grandson: “‘My wiener’s bigger than yours, Papa.’” (08:45)

Tone: Extremely irreverent, full of ribbing, with a mix of honest male vulnerability.

2. Locker Room Culture: Nudity, Confidence, and Athletes

(08:54 – 14:37)

• Awkwardness & Norms:
  John and Dale discuss the weirdness of grown men being naked together in athletic settings—a contrast to real life—and the odd intimidation/social hierarchy that ensues.

  • Dale: “Isn’t that a weird concept? Just grown dudes walking around naked, taking a shower in a big, big giant one…” (12:07).
  • John: “It’s the least normal thing in the world. And it’s everything you try to avoid in everyday life.” (12:28)

• Observation:
  The segment draws laughs but lands a point about athletes' body image—referencing Kevin Durant’s comments on body insecurity.

Tone: Comedy with a small undercurrent of real talk about masculinity and body image.

3. Dallas Cowboys Culture: Has Swag Killed Grit?

(14:38 – 20:44)

• Cowboys’ Softness & Ownership Issues:
  John points out the lack of accountability after a notably embarrassing loss to the Cardinals. High-fiving after bad plays and laughing on the sidelines are behaviors scrutinized.

  • Holmberg, exasperated: “Your high-powered offense…They’re on the sidelines laughing, and you’re down 24-something to the Cardinals who are in complete shambles…Is that coaching or do you just have to clean house?” (15:12)

• Dale's Take:

  • Ownership (Jerry Jones) sets a “no accountability” tone. The team’s plush facilities and star-treatment separate them from gritty, tough football.
    • Dale: “Nothing speaks football…You walk through a stinking bar [to the field]! And get treated like a superstar.” (17:22)
    • “No one’s held accountable. In the 90s, someone would have you up against a locker.” (17:47)

• Proposed Fix:
  John proposes a “seven-year rule”—if an owner doesn’t make the playoffs in that time, they’re forced to sell. Both hosts agree the league has become too friendly to passive, rich owners.

  • John: “Every seven years, if your team has not made the playoffs, the league forces you to sell…You’re giving back because the fans are the ones who are getting screwed.” (18:21)
  • Dale: “You wonder if somebody put that into the rulebook, just how serious Jerry would become.” (18:49)

Tone: Critical, nostalgic, and clearly frustrated—especially from Dale and John.

4. Arizona Cardinals & Kyler Murray: Benching or IR Drama?

(21:02 – 28:37)

• The Situation:
  Kyler Murray, once the Cardinals’ star, has now been placed on IR despite appearing ready to play. The hosts see this as a “soft benching” linked either to internal issues or failed trade attempts.

  • John: “The Cardinals have now taken a guy who almost started Monday and placed him on IR. Which tells me two things: There’s a problem inside…Or they tried to ship him, there were no bites, and they had to come back and say, Kyler, you’re not playing.” (21:28)
  • Dale: “You’ve seen Kyler Murray for the last time unless all hell breaks loose.” (26:55)

• Comparisons to Cowboys Quarterback Situations:
  Dale shares his own Dallas experience—Jimmy Johnson sticking with winning backup QB Steve Beuerlein over a healthy but benched Troy Aikman, and the internal turmoil it caused.

  • Dale: “Locker room divided…there were two or three times in Jimmy’s tenure where it was a razor’s edge whether he’d lose the locker room.” (24:30)
  • Troy Aikman called his agent looking for a trade due to frustration. (25:57)

• Outlook:
  Dale expects Kyler is done as a Cardinal, barring a major team crisis. The group briefly mentions the salary cap realities of eating a star QB's contract, referencing the Broncos’ willingness to eat $60M for Russell Wilson.

  • Dale: “If you get the right quarterback, you can still make the playoffs.” (27:53)

Tone: Analytical, pulling heavily on Dale’s player experience.

5. NFL Week 10 Picks & In-Show Side Bets

(28:44 – 34:50)

• Contest Format:
  The guys pick their teams for the week (Bears, Cowboys, Steelers) or forced prop bets if teams are on a bye, ribbing each other for homering, hedging, or overcomplicating rules. The system: if only one host wins their bet, the losers have to pay up.

• Highlights:

  • Dale complains: “I can give you my phone. I don’t know how to get the apple money out of here. Jesus Christ.” (29:11)
  • Brady: “If you bet against your team, you should pay double!” (31:14)
  • Debate and mock indignation over rules, cashed bets, and who’s actually listening.

• Actual Picks:

  • Bears vs. Giants in Chicago (Dale/Bret discussion)
  • Cowboys on a bye; so pick is for Seahawks vs. Cardinals
  • Steelers vs. Chargers (John rolls with Steelers straight up despite road woes)
  • Prop bet: Jackson Smith-Njigba to score a touchdown (Brady)

• Atmosphere:
  Relentless trash talk, eye-rolling, and jokes about “wiping rear ends with $100 bills.”

Tone: Banter-driven; classic “guys razzing each other about football and gambling.”

6. Championship Hopes & Phoenix Sports Woes

(34:54 – End)

• Valley Sports Frustration:
  Quick pivot to Phoenix’s championship drought. The hosts lament the Cardinals and Suns’ snakebit tendencies.

  • Dale: “It’s time to bail out on all of them.”
  • John: “Suns fans are just waiting for them to win so they can stop watching.”

• NBA Chatter:
  Dale and John discuss injuries and rotations, especially Jalen Green’s nagging “questionable” designation for the Suns and what it means for fan-favorite players like Con Gillespie.

Tone: Resigned (but still comedic), classic Arizona sports fatalism.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Quote | Speaker | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------------|-------------| | 06:17 | “Is that the greatest divorce you’ve ever heard in your life?” | John Holmberg | | 06:45 | “There are four guys in here that I can promise you will never, ever, ever have that issue.” | Dale Hellestrae | | 15:12 | “And they're on the sidelines laughing and high fiving and joking. You're down 24 something to the Cardinals…” | John Holmberg | | 17:22 | “You walk through a stinking bar. Nothing talks about football…And get treated like a superstar.” | Dale Hellestrae | | 18:21 | “Every seven years, if your team has not made the playoffs, the league forces you to sell…You’re giving back because the fans are the ones who are getting screwed.” | John Holmberg | | 21:28 | “The Cardinals have now taken a guy who almost started Monday and placed him on IR…There’s a problem inside…” | John Holmberg | | 24:30 | “There were two or three times in Jimmy's tenure in Dallas, where it was a razor's edge of whether he's going to lose the locker room or not.” | Dale Hellestrae | | 26:55 | “I think you’ve seen Kyler Murray for the last time unless all hell breaks loose.” | Dale Hellestrae | | 29:11 | “I can give you my phone. I don’t know how to get the apple money out of here. Jesus Christ.” | Dale Hellestrae | | 34:18 | “Pouty Brady is a blast. He thinks it's some sort of forceful thing. It's adorably. It's the cutest thing in the world when you get a little grumpy.” | John Holmberg | | 35:05 | “It’s time to bail out on all of them.” | Dale Hellestrae (about AZ teams) |

Noteworthy Timestamps

• Matt Kalil Divorce Story & Locker Room Tales: 05:26 – 08:54
• Male Nudity & Locker Room Culture: 08:54 – 14:37
• Cowboys Soft Culture Rant: 14:38 – 20:44
• Cardinals/Kyler Murray Drama: 21:02 – 28:37
• NFL Picks/Bets Segment: 28:44 – 34:50
• Arizona Championship Drought, Suns Injuries: 34:54 – end

Conclusion

This episode stands out as a perfect storm of sports mockery, blunt NFL insight, and over-the-top humor. Dale Hellestrae’s insider stories and blunt assessments pair perfectly with Holmberg’s comedic timing and skeptical takes on Arizona sports. If you want sharp, unfiltered talk about the NFL, a unique lens on the Cardinals’ dysfunction, and some of the best “guys just being guys” humor on the airwaves, this is an essential listen.