We were reminded in the wake of the termination of Broncos G.M. Ted Sundquist that Mike Lombardi no longer works for the team, on a voluntary basis (as he did last season) or otherwise.

We’ve also learned more about Lombardi’s efforts to shake some money out of his prior employer’s pockets.

Per a league source, Lombardi’s grievance against the Oakland Raiders was rejected by the league.

Lombardi claimed that he was owed a buyout. The only problem? He didn’t have a contract.

We’re told that he argued that he should have had a contract. But by not having a contract he was free to leave at any time, and the team was in turn free to ask him to go at any time.

Though California law infers the existence of contractual rights in certain circumstances that would otherwise be “at-will” in nature, it was determined that such circumstances didn’t apply to Lombardi’s employment in Oakland.

And so he was paid by neither team in 2007, and he’ll presumably be paid by neither team in 2008. Unless Al Davis does something really unpredictable and/or downright goofy, like re-hire Lombardi.

It’s a good thing that Davis would never do anything unpredictable and/or downright goofy.