Bengals Mike Zimmer remains favorite, but still not hired by the Vikings

The longer it takes for the Minnesota Vikings to announce their head coach, the more likely that whomever is named, it won't be Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer.

Call it a fan's intuition.

Call it a desperate fan's intuition.

After spending most of the day in Minnesota, the Vikings enter Tuesday evening without making an announcement as to whom will be their next head coach. In the mean time, Zimmer will to be sticking around Minnesota to see the sights for another night, scheduled to leave for Cincinnati on Wednesday. Anything can happen at this point.

According to Chris Tomasson with the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Vikings general manager Rick Spielman was expected to "get back to other candidates on Tuesday or Wednesday" so that he "doesn't have to give them an update until tomorrow" (meaning Wednesday).

What does that mean? Is Zimmer out and they're letting the other candidates know? Or are they telling the other candidates that Zimmer is their guy, so the search is over? If the Minnesota Vikings believed that Zimmer was their guy, what's the delay?

Some rumors have suggested that the Vikings want to know who Zimmer will hire as his assistants. We're not sure if that's ever been a primary stimulation for a head coach -- but we get the reasoning.

It's like an episode of Lost. We know that Zimmer is one of their candidates, the only one that's undergone a second interview. Another is Todd Bowles, defensive coordinator with the Arizona Cardinals. There are others. Mystery clouds our fanaticism like the black smoke monster bent on departing an Island saturated with far too many complicated story arcs.

Who are the others?

The Vikings like 49ers defensive line coach Jim Tomsula, who interviewed "well" with Vikings general manager Rick Spielman. San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman is well-liked. Both can interview a second time after the conference championship games this weekend. No second interview is scheduled with Bowles, Tomsula or Roman.

In the end, we continue waiting. Finding answers to growing questions. Just like Lost.