ESPN.com users have spoken, and the face of Madden NFL 12 will be Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis. Hillis was announced Wednesday as the winner of the fan vote, under way since March 21, on "SportsNation" on ESPN2. In all, almost 13M votes were cast, including more than 1M in the final.

Browns general manager Tom Heckert has narrowed the team's wish list as this week's NFL Draft approaches. Cleveland owns the sixth overall pick and Heckert is down to two players. If neither of those prospects is still available, Heckert said he would seek a trade.

Browns cornerback Joe Haden believes the players are winning the battle against the NFL in the court of public opinion. "The fans are definitely on the players' side," Haden said in a recent video interview with the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "The owners? C'mon. They're making billions and billions. We're making millions, but they're making billions. It's like, 'C'mon, guys.'"

Browns quarterback Colt McCoy has organizing workouts among his teammates during the NFL's lockout. Cleveland general manager Tom Heckert was pleased to hear that McCoy was rounding up a few of his teammates for some informal practices while the league's labor dispute drags on. "I think it's great," Heckert said. "When we were in Philadelphia, that happened anyway. It happened right before we had offseason conditioning, and even during the offseason conditioning when guys didn't want to come back to Philadelphia, they would go and they would hang out in Arizona. It's probably more publicized now. "Obviously, it's nice here. If they do it, great. If they don't, I don't think it's a big deal. They'll be ready when they come back. We'll have time."

Browns QB Colt McCoy will organize workouts in Austin, Texas, this week for his fellow offensive teammates, according to The Plain Dealer. The newspaper's source said that Cleveland wideouts Josh Cribbs, Mohamed Massaquoi, Brian Robiski, Carlton Mitchell and Jordan Norwood were among those headed to Texas, along with running back Peyton Hillis. "I think it's great," GM Tom Heckert told the newspaper. "If they do it, great. If they don't do it, I don't think it's a big deal. They'll be ready when it's time to go."

Browns running back Peyton Hillis surprisingly edged Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers to advance and face Eagles quarterback Michael Vick in the finals of the Madden 2012 cover contest. The winner will be announced April 27 at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN2. Fan voting propelled the 10th-seeded Hillis over the top-seeded Rodgers by a decisive 61 percent-to-39 percent margin.

Former Clemson defensive end Da'Quan Bowers received a good report on his surgically-repaired right knee in Indianapolis over the weekend, according to a league source. He will visit the Browns on Tuesday and Wednesday. Bowers, widely regarded as the premier pass-rushing end in the draft, didn't even have to undergo another X-ray or MRI because the physical exam went so well. RealGM's Jeff Risdon has the Dolphins selecting Bowers with the 15th overall pick in his latest mock draft.

The four finalists in the Madden 2012 cover athlete contest are Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Eagles quarterback Michael Vick, Browns running back Peyton Hillis and Vikings running back Adrian Peterson. The final pairing will be announced on April 18. Rodgers defeated Danny Woodhead, Vick topped Patrick Willis, Hillis edged Jamaal Charles and Peterson got past Drew Brees.

The Browns are hosting Troy wide receiver Jerrel Jernigan for a visit on Monday, according to a league source with knowledge of the situation. If Cleveland doesn't pick a wide receiver in the first round, then Jernigan could be under consideration for their second-round draft pick. The Browns are one of the potential landing spots for Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green or Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones.