That’s what a current fan survey on The Sporting News’ web site has determined. In its "Vote of the Fan" section, The Sporting News asks the question, "What are you most excited about right now?" Responses indicate that this weekend’s NFL Draft is the most eagerly anticipated current event of sports fans, with 41 percent saying they are most excited about the draft, followed by 23 percent for the NHL playoffs, 20 percent for the Major League Baseball season, and 16 percent for the NBA playoffs.

DOLPHINS DRAFT STRATEGY: The Miami Dolphins have eight choices in the first six rounds of the NFL Draft this weekend, but may not stop at that. "We need as many picks as we can get," says Dolphins head coach DAVE WANNSTEDT in emphasizing the importance of building through the draft. "Would we move up a spot or juggle around to get a player if we had him zeroed in? Yes, we’d talk about doing that. But we need another half-dozen players to make our team this year and we need three or four rookies to contribute like they did last year."

The last two times Miami had eight selections in the first six rounds, the club drafted 2001 starters PATRICK SURTAIN at cornerback and LORENZO BROMELL at defensive end in 1998, and a pair of 2001 All-Stars in 1997 – cornerback SAM MADISON and defensive end JASON TAYLOR.

COREY SAYS…: Like many newspapers across the nation, the Arizona Republic has added to its NFL coverage this week with feature articles, columns and predictions on the draft. But the Republic is going a step further by including a preview of this weekend by draft guru COREY CHAVOUS – who also happens to "moonlight" as an Arizona Cardinals cornerback.

A self-admitted draft junkie, Chavous has made a hobby of watching tape and scouting players since he was a child. He is so proficient in the area that he worked with ESPN on the draft in 1999 and 2000.

Chavous’ dossier on five of the top-rated players in the 2001 NFL Draft (listed alphabetically):

• WR Koren Robinson, N.C. State: "May end up being the best of this year's crop. But right now, still has room to grow. He's probably the most explosive receiver in this year's draft other than SANTANA MOSS."

• WR David Terrell, Michigan: "Often compared to Michael Irvin, but he's more similar to Eric Moulds. Plays like a guy who will be a dominant player at the next level. Standout physical receiver with speed who has played cornerback as well."

• RB La Dainian Tomlinson, TCU: "Cardinals running back coach Johnny Roland feels he's the best back in the draft, and that's hard to disagree with. Showed at the Senior Bowl that he can run inside."

• QB Michael Vick, Virginia Tech: "Brings ability that has never been seen before at the NFL level. Lost only one game in college as a starter."

• DT Gerard Warren, Florida: "Gets up the field but is still a two-gap lineman. Has everything you look for physically. Needs to improve pass-rush technique."
  

DL IN THE FAMILY: The New York Jets new defensive line coach RUBIN CARTER has spent significant time watching players on tape in preparation for the draft. One of those players has a familiar face -- his son ANDRE. The younger Carter, a defensive end at California, is expected to be a first-round draft choice on Saturday.

"Me and my dad are real close," Andre says. "We don’t just talk about football. We talk about life."

There’s even the possibility that the Jets could select Carter with the 19th pick. "I’d love to draft Andre, but I don’t think he’ll get to 19," said new Jets general manager TERRY BRADWAY. "It was certainly interesting to hear Rubin, when he came in to brief our scouts on defensive linemen, talk about his son."

Adds Andre, "That’s definitely one of my goals -- to work with my dad."

THE ULTIMATE MOCK DRAFT: Every April, national publications issue NFL Draft previews and make their mock draft choices. In Houston, the expansion Texans will be "drafting" players this weekend in preparation for their first official draft next year. "We want to operate as if we were drafting so everyone knows where they are sitting, what their jobs are and how we are going to handle trades," says Texans executive vice president-general manager CHARLEY CASSERLY. "We’ll go through the discussions of players and trades. This group has never worked together before. At some point down the road, in free agency or in a trade, we are going to have to evaluate the players from this year’s draft."

While Casserly and head coach DOM CAPERS and company won’t be making any real draft choices, they wish they were. "This is the best draft I’ve seen in a long, long time," says Casserly. "We would love to be in this draft."

WITH THE FINAL PICK…: Many are speculating that Green Bay Packers general manager RON WOLF, who will retire following this weekend’s draft, will look to make one last major splash by trading up from the Packers’ 10th position in the first round. But experts will point out that it is the third round where Wolf has arguably made his biggest impact.

Diamonds Wolf has found in the third round include long-time starters ROBERT BROOKS (1992), EARL DOTSON (1993), WILLIAM HENDERSON (1995), ANTONIO FREEMAN (1995), BRIAN WILLIAMS (1995), TYRONE WILLIAMS (1996) and MIKE MC KENZIE (1999). And even worse for the rest of the league, the Packers have three third-round picks this year!

NOT JUST HOPPING ON THE BUS: In one of the biggest free agent moves this offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers re-signed running back JEROME BETTIS, who has had five consecutive 1,000-yard seasons for the club. However, the Steelers’ offensive focus won’t solely be on the ground game this year. Quarterback KORDELL STEWART and the club’s past two first-round picks – wide receivers PLAXICO BURRESS (2000) and TROY EDWARDS (1999) – are integral to the 2001 Pittsburgh game plan.

"I was very pleased with how Kordell finished off the last half of the (2000) season," says Steelers head coach BILL COWHER. "For Plaxico, it was a great learning year in terms of the speed of the game. His (wrist) injury somewhat set him back. I’m looking forward to him stepping in. He’s a big guy who can give you tremendous matchup advantages. I’m looking forward to Plaxico being a big factor this year."

Cowher is also looking for Edwards to improve. "It’s a big year for Troy," he says. "It is important for Troy to come in with the frame of mind of winning the job."

SEATTLE ADDS DEFENSIVE STOPPERS: After finishing last in the NFL in defense in 2000, the Seattle Seahawks have made significant free-agent acquisitions. At defensive tackle, Seattle added six-time All-Star JOHN RANDLE, CHAD EATON and JEREMY STAAT. The club also signed linebacker LEVON KIRKLAND, who started 107 consecutive games for Pittsburgh, and free safety MARCUS ROBERTSON, who comes from the NFL’s top-ranked Tennessee Titans’ defense.

"(Head Coach) MIKE HOLMGREN made it clear that the defense was going to be a big issue," says Randle, who played in two NFC Championship Games in the past three seasons for Minnesota. "When you bring in guys of such high caliber and see the guys they already have here who are great players, you see there is no other place to go but up."