Is Ridley Scott playing the double bluff?

A curious absence from the "final" casting update from Universal regarding Ridley Scott's May 2010 released epic Nottingham, is the Sheriff, a character who for the most recent adaptations of the Hood mythology has usually been the main villain. A character too who has been in every plot synopsis (including the official one they have released today, despite claiming no-one is cast in the role) and at one time was said to be depicted by Russell Crowe who was playing both the Sheriff and Robin Hood ina new contemporary twist. That was until Scott told MTV last month that he thought €œIt is better to simply have the evolution of a character called Robin Hood, who will come out of a point in the Crusades which is the end.€And with that The Sheriff was gone. But as I say, the absence of The Sheriff from the casting sheet , despite him being mentioned as a character described as a "despotic sheriff" in the synopsis, is very curious indeed isn't it? Here's the full cast...

Russell Crowe, as Robin Hood. Cate Blanchett, as Maid Marian. Oscar Isaac, as King John (looks like William Hurt dropped out sometime in the last year and Scott has gone for his Body of Lies actor to play the part). Mark Strong as King John's Henchman Sir Godfrey, another actor coming across from Body of Lies. Scott Grimes as Will Scarlett, Hood's cousin Kevin Durand as Littlejohn. Alan Doyle, as Allan Adayle. Vanessa Redgrave, as John's mother, Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine. Lea Seydoux, Princess Isabella

Filming begins in a matter of weeks. Was Scott double bluffing us about Russell Crowe not playing The Sheriff as well... or is it just a case that the alter-ego has been removed entirely from the script and The Sheriff no longer appears at all? What too of Friar Tuck (once rumored to be filled by Paul Giamatti which seemed like good casting), and after the recent events in her family, will Vanessa Redgrave be able to fulfill her obligations here?