Former New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma has offered his advice to New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady after his suspension.

Vilma was initially suspended for an entire season before successfully overturning his ban in the NFL's bounty probe against him.

"I'd tell Brady to fight the emotion of defending himself publicly, lawyer up and begin to devise a gameplan to beat the NFL through the [court] system," Vilma told ESPN.

The former Saints star went through various appeal processes, and took the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell to federal court.

The Saints and Patriots were punished not only for violating the league's rules, but also for failing to co-operate with its investigations.