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• Robbo24 said May 13, 2009

  Marion Barber and Felix Jones.

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  • khollen replied May 13, 2009

    i gotta agree with you robbo24, they should be in the top 5
    • Robbo24 replied May 13, 2009

      Well thanks K-(to tha)-hollen, to be real I do think that B-West will be a good mentor for LeSean McCoy, got big Leonard in there to watching out for both of them will pay off big later in the season I fear. "Dag nabitt".
    • phightins26 replied May 13, 2009

      i 2nd that
    • ibleedgreen01 replied May 13, 2009

      i agree 2
  • miles26 replied May 13, 2009

    agreed...we all know at this point what barber brings to the table and felix jones looked pretty scary before his injury last year...not to mention that the cowboys unfortunately have one of the best #3 options in the league as tashard choice was no joke last season when one or both of the aforementioned went down...
    • Robbo24 replied May 13, 2009

      Very sporting to say Miles26, thanks man, I acknowledge your good intent in responding... I can say Eagles running package is a monster in the making. Should open up that West Coast Offense.
  • xraycat replied May 13, 2009

    good point robbo, i thought about those 2 the reason i passed on them was durability but they are sick nasty combo
    • cowboyswin08 replied May 13, 2009

      Then Marion and Choice? Barber's injury history is beter than Brandon Jacob's and at least as good as Westbrook's.
  • BowlBound replied May 13, 2009

    Amen.
  • HarryPotter replied May 13, 2009

    even harry potter agrees with that one, also LT and sproles and the raiders backs, take the bottom 3 out
  • apollokid replied May 13, 2009

    yes Barber and Jones have GOT to be on that list. If Felix stays healthy, dude is money and Marion is already a proven bruiser. Thats a big miss on this list I do agree.
  • Phoenixill replied May 14, 2009

    mccoy could blow....
  • DeWare replied May 15, 2009

    Can't leave out Tashard Choice. Dude put up some good numbers against some of the best rush D's last season (Pitt, NYG, and Balt to name a few).
• TheOneNOnly said May 13, 2009

  Derrick Ward is the RB for the Bucks and Ahmad Bradshaw is the RB for the Giants. Are you sure you didn't mean Brandon Jacobs and Bradshaw?

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  • xraycat replied May 13, 2009

    yea my bad, i knew ward went to the bucs, i didnt edit. thanks for noticing
• khollen said May 13, 2009

  willie parker and rashard mendenhall?

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  • xraycat replied May 13, 2009

    mendenhall got injured after talking a big game, left them out
• khollen said May 13, 2009

  but yet you put donald brown and addai on their and brown hasn`t even played an nfl game yet? and neither has coffee.

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  • xraycat replied May 13, 2009

    indeed, it's speculative i think those rookies will be good. addai and rhodes were a solid tandum and i think brown is a step up he's a really solid back. gore just needed any compliment
• khollen said May 13, 2009

  how can you say mendenhall isn`t going to be a solid back?

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  • xraycat replied May 13, 2009

    not saying he's not, I had high hopes. i just think there's at least 10 better duos. parker and mewelde moore were good too last year
    • BowlBound replied May 13, 2009

      Nobody knows how these rookies will pan out or the ones that were injured last year that were drafted in 2008. The Cowboys were much maligned for taking Felix Jones over Mendenhall, but I think we got the better end of the deal. Mendenhall may turn out to be a good running back, but he's not near as versatile as Felix is. I'll take Jones any day.
    • apollokid replied May 13, 2009

      Id take Jones over Mendenhall anyday. I was a big Felix fan for the draft last year and think he will be a great complimentary back
• khollen said May 13, 2009

  LT and sproles?

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  • BowlBound replied May 13, 2009

    Pretty good duo.
  • xraycat replied May 13, 2009

    yea i was debating for a while if i would put them in that last slot. they're exciting to watch, i'm just concerned that next year LT's gonna have a nagging injury (see toe circa 2008), and i don't know if i'm sold on sproles' consistency. good point khollen
• Zukny1 said May 13, 2009

  Joseph Addai and Donald Brown would totally be a lot HIGHER in my opinion, ""IF"'" their offensive line stays healthy, and improves a lot from last year. Addai has shown that he can be the man by himself in that backfied. I blame the injuries on the O-Line, not on him.

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• ItsWhatever said May 13, 2009

  What about Portis and Betts? They have injury history but are definitely top 7. Also McFadden/Bush/Fargas paired with Lorenzo Neal are gonna be fantastic.

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• jackson10 said May 13, 2009

  y the hell would the eagles even be on this list? mccoy has done nothing yet

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  • ItsWhatever replied May 13, 2009

    I have to agree with you.
  • khollen replied May 14, 2009

    neither has donald brown, why don`t you mention the colts?
• Dupree said May 13, 2009

  Fred Taylor & Laurence Maroney? I know LM had an injury but with the Pats O-Line this duo might be interesting.

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  • ItsWhatever replied May 13, 2009

    I think Sammy Morris is the starter. Over Maroney that is.
• eagles4ever05 said May 13, 2009

  Barber and JOnes should be there and L.T. and Sproles Gore and Coffee shouldnt be there

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• vikings2848 said May 13, 2009

  I agree with peterson and taylor, maby even percy harvin. But chris johnson and lendale white? cmon

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  • xraycat replied May 13, 2009

    harvin's a WR. CJ and lendale are so good, if you watched a single quarter of any titans game you would see that. anyone remember lendale's fata$$ running 80 yards for a TD?
  • khollen replied May 14, 2009

    are you saying johnson and white don`t belong? because if you are you are so wrong!
  • DeWare replied May 15, 2009

    Are you serious? 2000 yds, 25 TD's between the two. They're probably the most balanced 1-2 punch on this entire list!
    • khollen replied May 15, 2009

      agree
• mbshorty1881 said May 13, 2009

  How about the Broncos. They drafted Moreno and they signed Arrington, Buckhalter, and LaMont Jordan. They always produce 1000 yard rushers because of their zone blocking scheme. With the loss of Cutler and uncertainty at the position, they will rely heavily on the run this year. I think they have to have a spot on the list somewhere. Eagles off the list and Denver on.

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  • miles26 replied May 13, 2009

    with the coaching change, i think denver's running game is going to take a hit...mcdaniels may not roll with a zone blocking scheme...look what pats RB's did in his system...very little...
  • jcodd15 replied May 14, 2009

    unfortunately though, with the arrival of mcdaniels and the departure of shanahan and his genius system, the zone blocking scheme may be less of a factor now.
• xraycat said May 13, 2009

  So the consensus seems to be that this list is flawed because it lacks the Barber/Jones combo and the LT/Sproles combo... we shall see next season. I'm standing by it, i know there is mad rookies on this list. But just look at Slaton, 3rd rounder who had an amazing year. Can't pick the Broncos because I don't know their depth chart they always have 10 RBs who each start 1 game or 2 each

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  • khollen replied May 14, 2009

    it is flawed because L.T. one of the greatest backs in nfl history is not on it.
    • xraycat replied May 14, 2009

      I agree LT is one of the best, if not the best in contemporary football. However, it's been the LT show in San Diego the whole time. Nagging injury/trade talks led to increased Sproles carries/new contract. I am actually surprised that San Diego didn't draft an RB before the 4th round. Just sayin... 2009 might not be LT's year
• Dawks08 said May 14, 2009

  West and McCoy too high, they need to prove themselves, Adrian #2, LaDanian #4, Giants guys at #3, Jacobs alone should propel them to that spot, #5 Jets you watch and see what kind of impact Greene is going to have #6 Philly boys one McCoy

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• MONSTER said May 14, 2009

  percy harvin but no lendale or chris? lol dumb vikings fan

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• Zukny1 said May 14, 2009

  NO, the list actually isnt as bad as everyone is saying it is. Everyone is talking about other teams like LT and Sproles. The only reason why Sproles had carries last year is because LT was injured. The only reason why Betts ever gets a lot of carries is because Portis is injured. The fact is he is talking about "Running Back Duos" meaning split carries, monster attack. The colts drafted Donald Brown to do 1 thing. SPLIT CARRIES WITH JOSESPH ADDAI. So yes some of it is looking a little to far into the future, but thats called projection people. Good list.

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  • khollen replied May 14, 2009

    right it is projection, but with LT healthy with sproles they should be on it. just difference of opinion.
    • xraycat replied May 14, 2009

      It's going to be interesting, I feel like that's an issue that makes or breaks the season for them. LT healthy = contender, LT injured = 8-8 season
      • khollen replied May 14, 2009

        i agree they aren`t very good without him.
• msw3333 said May 14, 2009

  Tomlinson/Sproles?

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  • khollen replied May 14, 2009

    yeah, what about them?
  • xraycat replied May 14, 2009

    You bring up a good point
    • khollen replied May 14, 2009

      what point?
      • xraycat replied May 14, 2009

        a point of irony. msw make's his original suggestion to add to the comments
• khollen said May 14, 2009

  i just think because of tomlinson alone they should be in top 10.

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  • gbadair replied May 15, 2009

    I am not sold on Tomlinson being the best anymore. I think he's lost a step.
    • khollen replied May 15, 2009

      i`m not saying he is the best now! i`m saying because he is one of the best of all time they deserve to atleast be #10.
• jmill13 said May 14, 2009

  is the edge out of arizona??? cuz him and hightower worked pretty good in the playoffs

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  • khollen replied May 14, 2009

    yes. got released about 2 weeks ago.
  • xraycat replied May 14, 2009

    yea now it's hightower and beanie wells
    • jmill13 replied May 15, 2009

      o well thanks. im guessing hightower's gonna get most the playing time then
• ATDORRIRAENS said May 14, 2009

  how can you forget about marion barber and felix jones they are one of the best dous in the league.

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• Wheelman said May 14, 2009

  Great post, XRC.

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  • xraycat replied May 14, 2009

    gracias
• DTRIK19 said May 14, 2009

  You're giving WAY too much credit to unproven rookies. If this is based solely on potential and apparent ability that that's cool, but let's wait to see what Shady, Greene, Brown, Coffee can do.

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  • xraycat replied May 14, 2009

    i agree, looking back there is mad rookies on here. I don't think i'll be near 100% right, but i think it's going to be not 100% wrong. rookies last year had a great season and I am just hopeful this years batch will. Chris johnson, matt forte, and steve slaton lit it up. I think Donald Brown is going to be a great back, he single handedly carried UConn last season.
  • khollen replied May 14, 2009

    agree.
• Justwannawinna said May 14, 2009

  yo i love my birds but you cant say we got a top 10 rb dup just yet

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• giantsrepeat said May 14, 2009

  How can Jocobs abd Bradshaw be #7 on the list when they are the only tandem to each rush for over a 1000 yards each last year? That has only been done a hanful of times in the history of the NFL.

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  • xraycat replied May 14, 2009

    derrick ward > ahmad bradshaw
    • giantsrepeat replied May 14, 2009

      my bad, It was Jacobs and Ward, don't know what I was thinking. Probably hoping this year it will be Jacobs and Bradshaw. lol
      • ItsWhatever replied May 14, 2009

        Andre Brown is gonna take over pretty soon.
• MONSTER said May 14, 2009

  wasnt it ward that had 1000 yards rushing with jacobs? im pretty sure it was and if im right and your a giants fan and wrong thats bad

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  • giantsrepeat replied May 14, 2009

    Yes, read my second comment, my bad.
  • khollen replied May 15, 2009

    my god you actually are human and can write something worth reading! i`m impressed.
• Zukny1 said May 14, 2009

  because Derrick WARD was the one that ran for 1000 yards, not Bradshaw. Obviously you don't know your football. Plus even IF derrick ward was still on the team, they wouldn't be up at the top. The first 3 on this list are absolutely correct, they are Un-changeable! The Giants dont even have an offense going into this season. Brandon Jacobs will be injured due to being used to much, and no recieving core what so ever. in order for them to go anywhere, their defense will need to play like the Bears in 2006

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  • giantsrepeat replied May 14, 2009

    Your entitled to your opinion.
• raider408 said May 14, 2009

  KEEP HATIN ON THE RAIDERS..YOULL HAVE 2 TALK ABOUT US ONCE WE MAKE PLAYOFFS SO ITS KOO....eagles and sf running games have been weak....frank gores ypc has been goin down every year and philly NEVER RUNS IT!!!....AND WHY DID THE JETS MISS THA PLAYOFFS? cuz they didnt run the ball!!!....D-mac is da future!!!!

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  • xraycat replied May 14, 2009

    raiders will not make the playoffs. maybe i'll write about WRs and put darius heyward-bey on there for you. hahah al davis is a joke
  • DTRIK19 replied May 14, 2009

    Mcfadden has done nothing but suck so far and lets face it...all a D has to do against Oakland is focus on the running game, they don't have a QB or WR that scares anybody.
  • ItsWhatever replied May 14, 2009

    Run DMC, Fargas, and Bush, paired with Lorenzo Neal should be +quite a running attack. Should set up some play action over the top to Heyward-bay. It's why they drafted him. Maybe Russell will develop this year. Odds are he will still suck.
• Zukny1 said May 14, 2009

  I ll tel you what, the raiders have some of the best running in the NFL. This year, i can almost garuntee a darren mcfadden break out season. For god sake they have 3 awesome rushers.

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  • xraycat replied May 14, 2009

    they should be good fargas, mcfadden and russell can all keep the ground game rolling. russell just needs to toss the ball up. hopefully hayward bey can catch!
• crazyphillyfan said May 14, 2009

  jones, greene, and washington should be lower

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• crazyphillyfan said May 14, 2009

  what about sproles and tomlinson?

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  • ItsWhatever replied May 14, 2009

    Tomlinson is'nt anything special anymore.
    • crazyphillyfan replied May 14, 2009

      spliting carries with sproles will take some of the load off of his body should translate to better stats and less injuries. I think he'll have a decent year like 1100 yards 7 TDs
      • ItsWhatever replied May 14, 2009

        He'll get stats around there, but his AVG will be 3.3 yards per carry. Just like last year.
    • khollen replied May 15, 2009

      no he isn`t but still one of the greatest of all time, and that means something.
• Zukny1 said May 14, 2009

  they dont split carries over there in San Diego..... does no one here watch football?? The only reason why sproles played last year is because LT was injured. EVEN WHEN LT HAD MICHAEL TURNER THEY DIDNT SPLIT CARRIES. Turner would only come in for clean up. PERIOD......... do any of you watch football?

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  • BowlBound replied May 14, 2009

    True. Sproles was mainly a kick returner until LT got injured.
  • ItsWhatever replied May 14, 2009

    I highly doubt after seeing what Sproles can do, that they make him ride the bench. He'll get his carries.
    • khollen replied May 15, 2009

      i agree slightly, he won`t get alot of carries but he will get alot more than he used to.
  • crazyphillyfan replied May 16, 2009

    why would they franchise tag sproles if they arent going to use him?
• catman3415 said May 14, 2009

  what about Ronnie Brown, and Ricky Williams, and Patrick Cobbs? I think that they are a better choice than Frank Gore and Glen Coffee.

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  • ItsWhatever replied May 16, 2009

    Ronnie is a beast, I agree with you. Ricky is a decent 2nd string.
• Zukny1 said May 15, 2009

  look YOUR WRONG. Turner = top 5 RB in league. They knew what Turner could do, yet he still rode the bench. Im sorry, but Sproles isnt NEAR what Turner is. Are you trying to tell me that they didnt know what Turner could do? If you are your insane................ secondly Catman is right, Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams are an awesome duo right now. Ricky Williams is playing exceptional for being 55 years old :) lol.

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  • khollen replied May 15, 2009

    lol.
  • ItsWhatever replied May 16, 2009

    Your right they knew what Turner could do, yet he didn't see the field. I just don't see how they have a choice this year. Tomlinson isn't the same back he was 3-4 years ago. Then he was a 4.5 YPC back. Now he a 3.3 YPC back. If they want a homerun hitter, they need to put Sproles on the field.
• catman3415 said May 15, 2009

  Plus, Cobbs played well enough last year to get a rare contract extension out of Parcells. :)

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• pipoto77 said May 15, 2009

  You know i was going to putt Westbrook and Mccoy as well but this article beat me to it since Mccoy has played a snap yet but by the End of the Season they will be a Threat each getting near 1 thousand yards if anything westbrook will be at over 1000 yrds an mccoy will have like 800 yrds at least maybe more we shall see... I think we keep Mendenhall if he produce cuz Booker dont look like he is staying or is the plans for 09.. Instead of Earth wind and Fire We will have Water, Ice, Vapor lol critique me im just making this stuff as i go along

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  • khollen replied May 15, 2009

    i think booker will be gone, i think mendenhall makes it.
• pipoto77 said May 15, 2009

  Ice= Weaver Water= Westbrook Vapor= Mccoy may not a good analogy but just a suggestion

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• Zukny1 said May 15, 2009

  I would love to see Booker come out and be explosive! He has soooooo much potential, I just dont understand why he did so bad.

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• jverley said May 16, 2009

  One thing you have to remember when talking about Maroney is that he seems to be in Belichicks doghouse alot!!And a quick cowboy question for bowlbound,does it seem like Felix Jones might be injury prone? I know it is early in his career,but wasn't there a question about his durability coming out of Arkansas?

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  • DeWare replied May 16, 2009

    Honestly, I don't recall Felix having any serious injury problems at Arkansas. Think he pretty much suited up for every game in his soph/jr years. Could've been just a fluke thing here in his rookie season. Waaaaay too early to label him injury prone. Not sure what you mean about durability? Are you questioning whether he could physically handle being a feature back (25-30 carries a game) since he didn't even really do that at Ark? If so, don't think that was really ever in the Cowboys plans to put that kind of burden on him anyway with MBIII already in the fold.
• jverley said May 16, 2009

  A question for pipito77: Do you really think Andy is going to run the ball enough to get 1800 yards rushing? I mean I hope so,man I hope so, but I haven't seen anything in 10 years that says Andy will run the ball that much.

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• jverley said May 16, 2009

  Ya the question was aboutnhim being a 25 carry guy but u r right they probably did not draft him for that,but Barber was nicked up near the end of last year,and normally physical backs like him have relatively short careers.

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  • DeWare replied May 17, 2009

    Yeah I hear that...that's a big issue for me. I love the way he plays the game, but can't help but think about the long term effect it might have on his career. They'd be wise to use their other 2 backs to hopefully keep him healthy and effective.
• Zukny1 said May 16, 2009

  Barber is friggen amazing.

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• steelblue10 said May 18, 2009

  There are different opinions as to what the best running back duo means::
  1) the two that you think will rush for the most yards based on their skills, their team's O-line and the disposition to rushing in their team's offense game plan
  2) the two you would most like to have on your team based on how good you think they are
  3) the two that become Super Bowl Champions with their team this year
  
  1) Jacobs and Bradshaw
  2) Barber and Jones/Choice
  3) Maroney and Taylor

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  • ItsWhatever replied May 18, 2009

    Maroney and Taylor? Maroney is 3rd string, behind Sammy Morris and Fred Taylor.
• steelblue10 said May 19, 2009

  Got it. That may change. My point is I'm picking the Patriots to win the Super Bowl and using that definition as the best, the Pats running back tandem (whoever it is) is the best.

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  • khollen replied May 19, 2009

    not even close to top 10.
• pipoto77 said May 21, 2009

  um i dont know what we will get just a thought maybe more maybe less but i think we will run more and ur right andy may not change the structure of his philosphy, he will just allow us to run enough to win the Games. The thing that gets me mad is that when we play a team that is excellent on stopping the Run we abandon it, and the funny thing is that same exact team we play doesnt Prepare itself for our Run game it prepares for our Passing Game which is a Smokescreen the Eagles Should already avoid because the Eagles just make it that much easier to lose the game then to win it

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  • khollen replied May 21, 2009

    we will run more. that`s why the 2 massive lineman were brought in.
• Zukny1 said May 21, 2009

  Teams were able to prepare for the Eagles much better last year, then they will this year. The Eagles last year, had a Dismal O-line and a beat up RB. It made mountains of sense to abandon the run to me. I know you have to keep doing it, to keep the "defense" off guard, but when you run for 1 yard or -1 yard every time you run, your not exactly setting up enough room to take the defense off the guard.. if that makes sense.

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• DAHOODONE said June 03, 2009

  right now im going with westbrook and weaver for the eagles....

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• auburnfan30 said August 08, 2009

  No mention of Miami's Williams and Brown? Come on now. They might not be number 1 but they are definatly in the top 10.

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