This story is part of The Salt Lake Tribune’s ongoing commitment to identify solutions to Utah’s biggest challenges through the work of the Innovation Lab.
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Utah’s projects for a federal “hydrogen hub” are as much about methane as they are about hydrogen.
Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming joined to submit a proposal in April to tap some of the $8 billion the U.S. Department of Energy has set aside to develop a handful of “hydrogen hubs.” The hubs are intended to develop sources and infrastructure for hydrogen, which can generate power without climate-harming emissions.
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The states must wait until the fall to find out if the Western Interstate Hydrogen Hub proposal gets funded, but WISHH was one of 33 original applicants (out of 79) that DOE encouraged to submit a detailed proposal.
The states came up with eight projects, including two in Utah. The Utah projects are relatively small, and they rely heavily on methane, the energy-producing component in natural gas that is itself a climate-damaging greenhouse gas.
Greg Todd, director of the Utah Office of Energy Development, said the four states relied heavily on a consultant, Atkins, to choose the projects because the firm had extensive experience with DOE. “Atkins knew what they were doing. They worked pretty hard with the vetting process.”
Hydrogen has drawn attention as a clean fuel in recent years, but it’s been more theory than practice. There are no natural sources of hydrogen. It has to be created from other sources, and currently the vast majority of hydrogen is made from methane and used by the oil industry in processes that release greenhouse gases. There is little demand for hydrogen in Utah outside of the gasoline refineries, which make their own hydrogen from methane and use it to “crack” petroleum.
Only California has anything close to a network of hydrogen fueling stations. At the end of 2022, there were only two hydrogen-fueled vehicles even registered in Utah, and neither one was a large truck. And while there once was a plan to build a hydrogen refueling station in the Inland Port area on Salt Lake City’s west side, the “Project Beehive” plan has been scrapped as the Utah Inland Port Authority will conduct a new public outreach process before formulating a new plan for the area, said UIPA Executive Director Ben Hart.
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Hydrogen from dead trees
One of the Utah projects involves a company called AFV Energy, which operates a subsidiary, Juniper Fuels. According to CEO Jimmy Seear, the company is making “renewable natural gas” (methane) in Utah from the forest waste created when trees are thinned. The company has equipment that heats the waste without burning it, producing methane that can be captured.
“The process and technology we use operates at a higher temperature which does produce a very clean and large volume of gas,” Seear said.
Drought and beetle infestations have brought forest waste management to the forefront. All Western states and the U.S. Forest Service are trying to reduce forest fuels to reduce wildfires, which in addition to damaging life and property also contribute to climate change. Even leaving the wood to rot releases carbon dioxide.
Because the trees were absorbing carbon dioxide while they were growing, the captured methane is considered to have low- or negative carbon. If it is burned for energy or converted to hydrogen, it will emit carbon dioxide, but it is said to be “offset” by the carbon dioxide captured during the trees’ growth.
Kevin Whitty, a University of Utah chemical engineering professor who has done extensive research on biomass as a source of methane and hydrogen, said the AVF project would likely need a big federal subsidy to overcome the complications.
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“There are so many steps and associated inefficiencies and high costs that their project won’t make economic sense. But these days, things like that don’t seem to matter,” Whitty said.
Seear said his company is partnering with another firm called Bayotech to produce hydrogen from the gas and capture the carbon produced to make it more climate friendly, but that is still in the planning stages. There is no hydrogen currently being produced from AVF’s forest waste projects, just methane.
Clean, but not ‘green’
Hydrogen from methane, even when the carbon is captured (so-called “blue” hydrogen), is not carbon-free, and that’s because of leakage, according to the Rocky Mountain Institute. “At average US methane leakage rates, producing hydrogen from natural gas via steam methane reforming (SMR) will have cradle-to-gate emissions above 2.5 kg CO2 equivalent (CO2e) per kg of hydrogen, even if producers are somehow able to capture 100 percent of carbon dioxide emitted during production.”
There is another way to make hydrogen, and that is by splitting water molecules in electrolysis. If the energy for that comes from carbon-free sources, the hydrogen is considered “green,” meaning no greenhouse gases were released in producing it or consuming it. But electrolysis is expensive.
Another project in the four-state proposal comes from XCel Energy, XCel is Colorado’s largest supplier of both electricity and natural gas. Its contribution to the hydrogen hub will be making green hydrogen using wind, solar or nuclear.
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“Our hydrogen hub projects propose to produce hydrogen using carbon-free nuclear or renewable energy and offer new opportunities for storing and producing electricity and reducing carbon emissions across all sectors of the economy,” said Greg Chamberlain, vice president of clean fuels for XCel.
And a New Mexico project in the proposal would retrofit the retired Escalante coal-fired power plant to run on natural gas and hydrogen.
That is similar to the most ambitious hydrogen project in Utah. The Intermountain Power Project is shutting down its coal-fired power plant and replacing it with a gas power plant that will first mix hydrogen and natural gas with plans to go to full hydrogen produced from solar and wind farms near the Millard County facility. The plant is located above massive salt domes where months’ worth of hydrogen can be stored, making it a potential source of steady, baseload power.
Steve Griffin | The Salt Lake Tribune
The Intermountain Power Plant near Delta, Utah Friday April 12, 2013. The plant is in the process of converting from coal to a combination of natural gas and hydrogen.
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The IPP project isn’t included in the Western states hub proposal, but it is part of another hub proposal – California’s. Los Angeles gets the vast majority of IPP’s power. But Todd, of the Utah Office of Energy Development, said the IPP project is still closely watched in Utah. “We want them to have success, for sure. That little corner of the world where there are those salt domes is amazing.”
A little in the pipes
The other Utah project in the hydrogen hub proposal is Dominion Energy’s blending small amounts of hydrogen into the natural gas that customers in Delta, Utah, area receive. Dominion, which serves natural gas to about 80% of Utah households, began blending in 5% hydrogen to gas customers in the Delta area last month.
That followed an earlier test at Dominion’s Utah testing facility. “The tests found that a 5% hydrogen blend was safe and effective in reducing emissions from natural gas appliances,” Dominion reported.
About 1,800 customers in Delta and nearby towns of Oasis, Hinckley and Deseret are now receiving the blend, which is low enough in hydrogen that it works with regular gas appliances and furnaces. The hydrogen currently is not produced from an emissions-free source, but Dominion “anticipates an upgrade to green hydrogen created using an electrolyzer will occur later this year.”
Dominion, which is No. 242 on the Fortune 500 and has customers across the country, is also testing hydrogen blends in North Carolina and Virginia. The company also operates electrical utilities and has a 2050 target to be carbon neutral, although it hasn’t detailed how it will get there.
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A knock from the docs
Hydrogen blending has drawn opposition from the country’s largest organization of doctors. The American Medical Association last year passed a resolution opposing hydrogen blending. The resolution noted that most of the hydrogen currently produced is made from fossil fuels. But the AMA also opposed blending because it says hydrogen has a greater risk of explosion and it produces more NOx emissions when burned than natural gas alone.
Dominion disputes that. “Extensive internal testing for a year at our Salt Lake City Training Academy, which replicates the various appliance equipment/configurations/vintages utilized across our gas footprint, confirms external research that demonstrates that premixed burners, which are the industry standard for residential and commercial U.S. gas appliances, do not produce additional NOx when burning hydrogen blends of up to 5%.”
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AMERICAN FORK — One man was killed early Sunday after he crashed head-on into an attenuator on Interstate 15, authorities said.
The Department of Public Safety said just before 1 a.m. Sunday, Utah County troopers responded to the crash near milepost 278, on the Pioneer Crossing off-ramp.
Authorities said the man was driving a white Ram 1500. For “an unknown” reason, he drifted to the right from the left lanes, hitting the crash attenuator.
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The truck caught fire after impacting and was fully engulfed in flames when emergency crews arrived. The driver was removed from the vehicle after the flames were contained.
He was taken to the hospital by helicopter in serious life-threatening condition. Authorities said hospital staff contacted investigators and said the driver’s injuries “were not survivable.”
All northbound traffic was shut down and diverted for two hours after the crash, authorities said.
DPS did not disclose the driver’s name as of Sunday morning.
800 meters — 1. Noah Nielson, American Fork, Sr., 1:51.00; 2. Zach Hillhouse, Pleasant Grove, Sr., 1:51.35; 3. William Steadman, Herriman, Sr., 1:51.42; 4. McKay Wells, Corner Canyon, Jr., 1:51.92; 5. Tayshaun Ogomo, Herriman, Jr., 1:52.08; 6. Daniel Simmons, American Fork, Sr., 1:53.37; 7. Ryker Bement, American Fork, Jr., 1:53.51; 8. Andrew Marks, Herriman, Sr., 1:54.74.
1,600 meters — 1. Daniel Simmons, American Fork, Sr., 4:01.27; 2. William Steadman, Herriman, Sr., 4:02.64; 3. Zach Hillhouse, Pleasant Grove, Sr., 4:10.45; 4. Max Hofheins, Herriman, Sr., 4:10.77; 5. Kaden Evans, American Fork, Jr., 4:10.96; 6. Ben Bradshaw, American Fork, Sr., 4:12.40; 7. Tayshaun Ogomo, Herriman, Jr., 4:13.05; 8. Jack Beckstrom, Herriman, Sr., 4:13.39.
3,200 meters — 1. Daniel Simmons, American Fork, Sr., 8:36.79; 2. William Steadman, Herriman, Sr., 8:57.90; 3. Zach Hillhouse, Pleasant Grove, Sr., 9:02.63; 4. Kaden Evans, American Fork, Jr., 9:02.73; 5. Ben Jaster, American Fork, Sr., 9:07.74; 6. Ben Bradshaw, American Fork, Sr., 9:08.18; 7. Jack Beckstrom, Herriman, Sr., 9:09.25; 8. Max Hofheins, Herriman, Sr., 9:10.51.
It’s no secret that Utah has been a hotbed for NFL talent in recent years, but it’s not as widely known that the state has seemingly always held football factory status.
Players from BYU, Utah and Utah State have been making an impact on the league for nearly a century.
Here are the best products from Beehive State schools to suit up for each NFL franchise.
Washington Commanders: Chris Cooley (Utah State)
Years with team: 2004-12.
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Statistics with team: 117 games,429 receptions, 4,711 yards and 33 touchdowns.
Accolades with team: 2x Pro Bowler, franchise leader in career tight end receiving yards and named to the team’s “90 Greatest” list.
A fan favorite, do-it-all tight end who emerged as one of the best players at his position in the mid-2000s.
Dallas Cowboys: Cornell Green (Utah State)
Years with team: 1962-74.
Statistics with team: 182 games, 34 interceptions, seven forced fumbles and four defensive touchdowns.
Accolades with team: 5x Pro Bowler, 2x First Team All-Pro, 2x Second Team All-Pro and Super Bowl VI champion.
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A former Aggies basketball talent who never played college football, Green became a gridiron star in Dallas as one of the franchise’s first true impact players.
New York Giants: Bart Oates (BYU)
Years with team: 1985-93.
Statistics with team: 140 games, 136 starts and three fumble recoveries.
Accolades with team: 2x Pro Bowler and 2x Super Bowl champion.
A strong leader on the offensive line who seemingly won wherever he went.
Philadelphia Eagles: Chad Lewis (BYU)
Years with team: 1997-98, 1999-2005.
Statistics with team: 110 games, 228 receptions, 2,349 yards and 23 touchdowns.
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Accolades with team: 3x Pro Bowler and 2000 Second Team All-Pro.
One of Andy Reid’s favorite offensive weapons during Philadelphia’s early 2000s run of NFC East dominance.
Carolina Panthers: Steve Smith Sr. (Utah)
Years with team: 2001-13.
Statistics with team: 182 games, 836 receptions, 12,197 yards and 75 total touchdowns.
Accolades with team: 5x Pro Bowler, 2x First Team All-Pro, 2008 Second Team All-Pro, 2005 Comeback Player of the Year, all-time franchise receiving leader and member of the Panthers Hall of Honor.
Arguably the greatest player in Carolina Panthers history and one of the most feared receivers and return specialists of his generation.
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Atlanta Falcons: Jamal Anderson (Utah)
Years with team: 1994-2001.
Statistics with team: 88 games, 6,981 scrimmage yards and 41 touchdowns.
Accolades with team: 1998 Pro Bowler and First Team All-Pro, franchise single season rushing leader.
The dynamic Anderson’s 1998 campaign is still considered one of the best ever for a running back.
New Orleans Saints: Taysom Hill (BYU)
Years with team: 2017-present.
Statistics with team: 97 games, 7-2 starting record, 2,348 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, 2,915 scrimmage yards and 38 scrimmage touchdowns.
Nicknamed the “Swiss Army Knife,” Hill has proven a valuable contributor as a quarterback, running back, tight end and special teamer during his unique career in the Big Easy.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Donald Penn (Utah State)
Years with team: 2007-13.
Statistics with team: 112 games, 108 starts, four fumble recoveries and two touchdowns.
Accolades with team: 2010 Pro Bowler.
The definition of dependable, Penn started all but four games in his seven seasons with Tampa.
Detroit Lions: Ziggy Ansah (BYU)
Years with team: 2013-18.
Statistics with team: 80 games, 48 sacks and 10 forced fumbles.
Accolades with team: 2015 Pro Bowler and Second Team All-Pro.
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A freakish athletic specimen hindered by injuries but still able to notch the record for most Thanksgiving Day sacks in NFL history.
Green Bay Packers: Lionel Aldridge (Utah State)
Years with team: 1963-71.
Statistics with team: 123 games, 62 sacks and 16 fumble recoveries.
Accolades with team: 2x Super Bowl champion, 1965 NFL champion and member of the Packers Hall of Fame.
A standout defensive force for one of the league’s most decorated dynasties.
Chicago Bears: Jim McMahon (BYU)
Years with team: 1982-88.
Statistics with team: 46-15 starting record, 11,203 passing yards, 67 touchdowns, 1,284 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns.
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Accolades with team: 1985 Pro Bowler, Super Bowl XX champion and member of the 100 Greatest Bears.
The “punky QB” for what many consider to be the greatest team in NFL history, McMahon’s off-the-field antics are what truly cemented him as an icon in his era.
Minnesota Vikings: Jim Hough (Utah State)
Years with team: 1978-86.
Statistics with team: 111 games, 76 starts and two fumble recoveries.
A steady contributor at both the left guard and center positions for nearly a decade in Minnesota.
San Francisco 49ers: Steve Young (BYU)
Years with team: 1987-99.
Statistics with team: 91-33 starting record, 29,907 passing yards, 221 touchdowns, 3,581 rushing yards and 37 rushing touchdowns.
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Accolades with team: 2x MVP, 7x Pro Bowler, 3x First Team All-Pro, 3x Second Team All-Pro, 3x Super Bowl champion, Super Bowl XXIX MVP, and member of both the 49ers and Pro Football Halls of Fame.
Young was given the daunting task of succeeding Joe Montana in San Francisco and responded with a Hall of Fame career as one of the most exciting and beloved superstars of his era.
Arizona Cardinals: Larry Wilson (Utah)
Years with team: 1960-72.
Statistics with team: 169 games, 52 interceptions, 14 fumble recoveries and eight total touchdowns.
Accolades with team: 1966 Defensive Player of the Year,8x Pro Bowler, 5x First Team All-Pro, franchise interceptions leader, Cardinals Ring of Honor inductee and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Wilson spent over a decade wreaking havoc as a legendary defensive back in his decorated Hall of Fame career.
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Los Angeles Rams: Merlin Olsen (Utah State)
Years with team: 1962-76.
Statistics with team: 208 games, 91 sacks and a touchdown.
Accolades with team: 14x Pro Bowler, 5x First Team All-Pro, 3x Second Team All-Pro, member of both the Rams Ring of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Arguably the greatest NFL talent to ever come out of the state of Utah. If not for Tom Brady, the ultra popular Olsen would have the most Pro Bowl appearances in history.
Seattle Seahawks: Bobby Wagner (Utah State)
Years with team: 2012-21, 2023.
Statistics with team: 168 games, 1,566 tackles, 27 sacks, six forced fumbles, 10 fumble recoveries and four touchdowns.
Accolades with team: 9x Pro Bowler, 6x First Team All-Pro, 3x Second Team All-Pro and Super Bowl XLVIII champion.
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One of the greatest linebackers of all time and the heart of Seattle’s dominant “Legion of Boom” defense.
New England Patriots: Kyle Van Noy (BYU)
Years with team: 2016-19, 2021.
Statistics with team: 67 games, 287 tackles, 21.5 sacks, seven forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries and four touchdowns.
Accolades with team: 2x Super Bowl champion and member of the Patriots All-2010s team.
A pivotal role player who always rose to the occasion in the twilight of the Patriots dynasty.
Miami Dolphins: Manny Fernandez (Utah)
Years with team: 1968-75.
Statistics with team: 103 games, 35 sacks and six fumble recoveries.
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Accolades with team: 2x Second Team All-Pro, 2x Super Bowl champion and Dolphins Walk of Fame member.
A monster on the defensive line for Miami’s undefeated, Super Bowl winning 1972 squad.
Buffalo Bills: Ryan Denney (BYU)
Years with team: 2002-09.
Statistics with team: 111 games, 298 tackles, 23.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and two touchdowns.
A solid, consistent backup defender who did everything asked of him during his time in Buffalo.
New York Jets: Jim Turner (Utah State)
Years with team: 1964-70.
Statistics with team: 98 games, 153/256 in field goals (59.8%) and 238/242 in extra points (98.3%).
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Accolades with team: 2x Pro Bowler and Super Bowl III champion.
One of the finest kickers of his era who once held the NFL’s single season scoring record and helped the Jets to their lone Super Bowl win.
Cleveland Browns: Mac Speedie (Utah)
Years with team: 1946-52.
Statistics with team: 86 games, 349 receptions, 5,602 yards and 33 touchdowns.
Accolades with team: 2x Pro Bowler, 3x First Team All-Pro, 2x Second Team All-Pro, 4x AAFC champion, 1950 NFL champion, Browns Ring of Honor inductee and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
One of football’s first great pass-catchers and a star for Cleveland during the franchise’s golden era.
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Baltimore Ravens: Dennis Pitta (BYU)
Years with team: 2010-16.
Statistics with team: 66 games, 224 receptions, 2,098 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Accolades with team: Super Bowl XLVII champion.
A key offensive piece and one of Joe Flacco’s favorite targets during Baltimore’s improbable run to Super Bowl XLVII.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Roy Jefferson (Utah)
Years with team: 1965-69.
Statistics with team: 65 games, 199 receptions, 3,671 yards and 29 touchdowns.
Accolades with team: 2x Pro Bowler, 1969 First Team All-Pro, 1968 Second Team All-Pro and member of the Steelers Legends Team.
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Though he enjoyed further success later in his career with both Baltimore and Washington, Jefferson was an explosive offensive force in his time in Pittsburgh.
Cincinnati Bengals: Bob Trumpy (Utah)
Years with team: 1968-77.
Statistics with team: 128 games, 298 receptions, 4,600 yards and 35 touchdowns.
Accolades with team: 4x Pro Bowler and 1969 First Team All-Pro.
Though he was the best tight end in Bengals history, Trumpy’s true legacy is that of a broadcasting pioneer as one of the first athletes to get behind a microphone.
Indianapolis Colts: Austin Collie (BYU)
Years with team: 2009-12.
Statistics with team: 42 games, 173 receptions, 1,845 yards and 16 touchdowns.
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While his career was cut short by injuries, the connection between Collie and Peyton Manning still ranks statistically as one of the most effective between a receiver and quarterback in league history.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Devin Lloyd (Utah)
Years with team: 2022-present.
Statistics with team: 33 games, 242 tackles, three interceptions and four fumble recoveries.
The sky is the limit for the young linebacking force now entering his third season with the Jags.
Houston Texans: Brice McCain (Utah)
Years with team: 2009-13.
Statistics with team: 72 games, 124 tackles and five interceptions.
A speedy, ball-hawking cornerback able to lock up both inside and outside receivers.
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Tennessee Titans: Kevin Dyson (Utah)
Years with team: 1998-2002.
Statistics with team: 58 games, 176 receptions, 2,310 yards and 18 touchdowns.
One of Steve McNair’s favorite targets during Tennessee’s heyday and the recipient of the famous “Music City Miracle” touchdown in the 1999 AFC title game.
Kansas City Chiefs: Alex Smith (Utah)
Years with team: 2013-17.
Statistics with team: 50-26 starting record, 17,608 passing yards, 102 touchdowns, 1,672 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.
Accolades with team: 3x Pro Bowler.
A remarkably efficient passer who made four trips to the playoffs with the Chiefs and played a major role in mentoring Patrick Mahomes.
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Las Vegas Raiders: Todd Christensen (BYU)
Years with team: 1979-88.
Statistics with team: 136 games, 461 receptions, 5,872 yards and 41 touchdowns.
Accolades with team: 4x Pro Bowler, 2x First Team All-Pro, 2x Second Team All-Pro and 2x Super Bowl champion.
One of the most egregious Pro Football Hall of Fame snubs, Christensen was an elite tight end who helped to revolutionize the position and lead the Raiders to a pair of Super Bowl titles.
Los Angeles Chargers: Eric Weddle (Utah)
Years with team: 2007-15.
Statistics with team: 137 games, 851 tackles, 19 interceptions, five forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries and three total touchdowns.
Accolades with team: 3x Pro Bowler, 2x First Team All-Pro and 3x Second Team All-Pro.
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A dominant, game-wrecking safety who captained the Chargers defense for nearly a decade as one of the franchise’s all-time greats.
Denver Broncos: Rulon Jones (Utah State)
Years with team: 1980-88.
Statistics with team: 129 games, 73.5 sacks and 10 fumble recoveries.
Accolades with team: 2x Pro Bowler, 1986 First Team All-Pro and 1985 Second Team All-Pro.
A ferocious, hard-hitting pass rusher who terrorized quarterbacks for the fifth-most career sacks in Broncos history.