New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma's defamation lawsuit against NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was dismissed on Thursday, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello announced.

In her ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Helen Berrigan criticized how Goodell disciplined New Orleans Saints players involved in the team's bounty program, but said the claims made by Vilma did not support his lawsuit.

New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma's defamation lawsuit against NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was dismissed by a judge Thursday.

"Vilma's argument that the statements were made in Goodell's individual capacity is unpersuasive as Goodell was sued as Commissioner of the NFL and all of the statements attributed to Goodell were made in connection with the NFL's investigation of the pay-per-performance/bounty allegations," Berrigan wrote in her ruling. "Therefore, Vilma's claims are preempted and must be dismissed.

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