After listening to pleas from the players’ side, Judge Susan Nelson decided to lift the lockout on Monday evening.

Reportedly, Nelson’s decision was greatly influenced by the players expressing what type of impact the lockout would have on their careers if it stayed in place.

However, confusion still reigns over what might happen next.

Here’s what we know thus far:

• Late Monday night via Tweeter, Adam Schefter said the NFLPA told players to report to team facilities on Tuesday. Furthermore, the NFL Management Council told teams to let players report but not to the weight room.
• The league filed a pair of motions on Monday night. One of the motions requests a stay until the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis hears its plea. The stay would keep the lockout in place.

One team that may be very eager to report on Tuesday would be the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Safety Ryan Clark, who is the team’s player representative, is urging his teammates to report to Steeler facilities as early as 8 a.m. on Tuesday morning, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

“I’m trying to get guys there at 8 o’clock, to get out there and show we want to be here, we want too be part of this organization and we want to be on the field. We want to show this is not a litigation process but an attempt to have football in 2011.”

Meanwhile, the early word on the ruling from DeMaurice Smith, Executive Director of the NFLPA, is an encouraging one.

“I’m happy for our players and for our fans. Today, those who love football are the winners,” said Smith.

Not so fast.

The only winning for fans will occur when players are practicing and coaches are coaching.

Oh yeah, a new collective bargaining agreement would not hurt either.

Until then, as you were.