Denver ? Broncos running back Damien Nash collapsed and died after a charity basketball game in suburban St. Louis on Saturday, less than two months after the slaying of teammate Darrent Williams.

“We have been informed of the passing of Damien Nash,” team spokesman Jim Saccomano said Saturday night. “We are attempting to get more details. … We do know it’s true.”

Officials at Christian Hospital in St. Louis said the 24-year-old Nash died early Saturday evening. The cause of death wasn’t immediately determined.

Nash collapsed shortly after participating in the game benefiting a foundation named for older brother Darris Nash. The foundation raises money for heart-transplant research. It was established last month, after Darris Nash received a heart transplant.

Former Missouri receiver Sean Coffey was at the event with Nash and told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch there was no indication anything was wrong.

“Everything was normal. … We were playing around at the game. … He was fine,” Coffey told the newspaper. “I give my best to his family. This is crazy. I can’t believe this is happening. It was the first time I had seen him in a couple of years. I can’t believe he’s gone. I’m so happy I got to see him one last time.”

Nash was from East St. Louis, Ill., and played two years at Missouri after playing at Coffeyville Community College in Kansas.

“The Denver Broncos organization is once again struck with profound sadness over the tragic loss of one of our players,” team owner Pat Bowlen said in a statement. “This is a tremendous tragedy, and our hearts go out to the entire Nash family.”

The Broncos are still reeling from the slaying of Williams, who was shot once in the neck while leaving a New Year’s Eve party in his rented stretch Hummer in downtown Denver hours after the season ended. His slaying remains unsolved.

“The Broncos family has suffered a great loss with the passing of Damien Nash,” coach Mike Shanahan said from Indianapolis, where he was attending the NFL’s scouting combine along with general manager Ted Sundquist.

A fifth-round draft choice by Tennessee in 2005, Nash played in three games for the Titans. The Broncos signed him as a free agent last season and he played in three games, rushing for 98 yards on 24 carries.

Falcons’ Kerney voids pact

Atlanta – Atlanta Falcons defensive end Patrick Kerney voided his contract, and potentially lucrative free-agent options could make it difficult for the team to re-sign their top pass rusher. Kerney opted out of the final two years of his contract to explore his options as an unrestricted free agent, the team confirmed Saturday.

Ex-lineman Lundy dead at 71

Richmond, Ind. – Lamar Lundy, a member of the Fearsome Foursome defensive line for the Los Angeles Rams in the 1960s, died Saturday. He was 71. He died after a long illness in his hometown, the Community Family Funeral Home told the Associated Press.

Lundy spent his entire 13-year career with the Rams (1957-69). He teamed with Merlin Olsen and Deacon Jones – both future Pro Football Hall of Famers – and Roosevelt Grier to form a mighty defensive line. In 1968, the defense featuring the four set an NFL record for the fewest yards allowed during a 14-game season.

Owens to have surgery

Indianapolis – Terrell Owens needs more surgery on his injured right ring finger and might not be 100 percent until training camp. Dallas Cowboys coach Wade Phillips confirmed that the wide receiver needs a second procedure on the finger that required surgery last month after getting injured during the 2006 season. Phillips did not give a date, but The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported the surgery would be Thursday.