The Vikings' Adrian Peterson? The Titans' Chris Johnson?

Those elite NFL running backs have nothing on the Browns' Peyton Hillis. I know, let's not get carried away, but who would have predicted Hillis gracing the cover of a Madden video game before the likes of Peterson and Johnson?

Certainly not Hillis, who's not about to put himself in the class of what many consider the top two running backs in the NFL.

"I would never look at myself like that to tell you the truth." Hillis said in a phone interview with The News-Herald. "Even if I had 20 1,000-yard seasons, I would not think of myself as one of the greats. That's just not how I was raised. 

"I always felt, just go out and do my best, stay level-headed and stay humbled. Those guys are great football players and when I look at myself, I think of myself as just being good and I've got to get better. I think that's the mindset a guy like me needs if I want to stay around for a long time."

The Madden 12 video game with Hillis on the cover hits stores on Aug. 30.

- Mark Podolski

Browns running back Peyton Hillis scored an upset in moving on in the Madden NFL 12 campaign to grace the cover of the popular video game.

Hillis, a No. 10 seed, advanced by earning more fan votes than No. 2 seed Matt Ryan of the Falcons. Other players joining Hillis in the quarterfinals are Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, Patriots RB Danny Woodhead, Chiefs RB Jamal Charles, Vikings RB Adrian Peterson, 49ers LB Patrick Willis, Saints QB Drew Brees and Eagles QB Michael Vick.

Hillis will take on Charles in the next round. The last day to cast votes for the third round is April 11 at noon. The final four candidates will be announced later that day at 4 p.m. on ESPN's "SportsNation."

Vote here: www.espn.com/maddenvote