Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis is the face of Madden NFL 12, easily defeating Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick with 66 percent of the vote.

The announcement was made Wednesday afternoon on ESPN’s SportsNation, where both Hillis and Vick were on location in Bristol, Conn.

“I just want to tell them thanks and I’m going to play my best for them,” the No. 10 seed Hillis said after the announcement. This was the year that fans were allowed to vote on the cover athlete.

As for the Madden curse, the Browns bruiser isn’t worried.

“For people to believe in this so-called curse, I can’t wait to prove people wrong,” he said. “From what I believe and where I am in my spiritual life, it would be good to prove them wrong in that sense.”