The NFL filed a motion in federal court in New Orleans on Monday to try to block Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma from demanding evidence in the league's bounty probe related to his defamation lawsuit against the league's commissioner, Roger Goodell.

The legal counsel for the NFL has now asked the court to prevent Vilma's legal team from requesting evidence related to the NFL's investigation in the alleged bounty program the NFL says the Saints ran from 2009-11.

Vilma's lawyer, Peter Ginsburg, has subpoenaed Goodell, former NFL lead investigator Joe Hummel, and a pair of former Saints defensive coaches -coordinator Gregg Williams and assistant Mike Cerullo - in relation to the case, according to the league's motion.

The NFL, which claims that demands for evidence are premature because its motion to dismiss the lawsuit is still pending, wants U.S. District Judge Ginger Berrigan to rule on whether to enforce a stay of discovery by Oct. 10.

Vilma's lawsuit claims he was judged and punished by Goodell using insufficient evidence.