Michael Johnson: "I'm On To Cincinnati"

Last night, the Minnesota Vikings got their opportunity to wine and dine free agent defensive end Michael Johnson, who had been released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers early in the week. Johnson played for current Vikings' head coach Mike Zimmer as a member of the Cincinnati Bengals before moving on to Tampa, and it was thought that could be enough to get him to sign with the purple and gold.

But, according to Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. . .well, it's not looking good for the home team.

Right when I was talking with Michael Johnson Mike Zimmer called him to put in a last-ditch appeal to not get on plane He's getting on plane

— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) March 14, 2015

Now, Johnson had said that regardless of what happened with his visit with the Vikings, he was going to make his visit to Cincinnati. But if you look at some of Tomasson's other tweets, it sounds like Johnson may have had his mind made up before making his visit to Minnesota and may have come to visit Zimmer out of respect more than anything. Well, and to get a free meal at Manny's Steakhouse because. . .seriously, have you been to Manny's before?

(I really don't think the free meal thing was a part of it, to be honest, but it damn sure couldn't have hurt.)

Johnson has said that he will make his decision on Monday, and that "a lot of tears will be shed" either way. Will that decision be to sign with the Minnesota Vikings? At this point, I'm not sure how heavily I'd bet on that, but stranger things have happened.