A321 returned to departure airport after detecting a possible nose gear anomaly on takeoff.

Narrative

Weather was reported as: Wind 070/08 10SM FEW 060 21/07 30.17 departing the center runway. On takeoff roll about 10 KTS prior to V1 we felt a jerk to the right; a pop noise; a grinding noise with a vibration from nose gear. We added all these thing together and thought we had lost a nose gear tire. We continued the takeoff. We left the gear down and advised tower that we thought we had blown a nose tire and to look for debris on the runway. The tower advised that they found no debris on the runway. We leveled at 4000 FT and discussed the problem. I contacted the lead flight attendant and confirmed that he had felt and heard the same thing we had experienced. Based on the information we had we stayed with the problem of a blown nose gear. We declared an emergency with ATC and flew a long wide down wind leg for Runway XXC. We completed the necessary QRH procedures (overweight landing) and checklists; advised dispatch via the ACARS; advised maintenance via company radio; advised the passengers of the problem; and that we were returning to the airport. We landed on Runway the center runway and stopped on the runway. Emergency personal surrounded the aircraft and advised us that our nose gear was not blown and no other problems were observed. We quickly changed ships and with all of the same passengers and continued an uneventful flight.