NLL Fighting: Brawls Becoming Too Frequent?

A brawl in the NHL usually makes top news. Every local media outlet of the two teams jump on it, and the teams instantly promote it as a way of getting fans to come to the game. The NLL has done this before too. There is absolutely no problem with that. The brawls normally get the fans most fired up. And besides, i doesn't happen every week.

Except, it has been lately. While brawls are great and exciting for the fans, how long before it starts to become boring and almost annoying? The brawls in last night's game between the Washington Stealth and the Calgary Roughnecks caused the longest quarter in NLL history. During an 11pm game, some east coasters watching it could have left by that point, it becoming too late.

Earlier this season, the Rochester Knighthawks and Philadelphia Wings had one of the largest brawls in league history, where even the goalies fought. The referees have been criticized for letting it get out of control, and even photographers sneaking on the field during the mess. However, that was one time, and local media outlets picked it up. It was exciting, so no problem.

There were no suspensions from that brawl, but twelve game misconducts handed around the next week. Last week, there were more game misconducts as well, as the Minnesota Swarm and Buffalo Bandits brawled at halftime. In Calgary, Toronto Rock goalie Pat Campbell attacked Geoff Snider from behind the net. Hardly a brawl, but something that could cause one.

I have two theories on why this might be happening. First, there are only nine teams, and they are playing each other in a lot more games. Hatred could be building up from the times these teams face off. Second, the league has not handed out a suspension all season long. Game misconducts, sure, but no suspensions.

In a season where you have to be really bad not to make the playoffs, a suspension might not hurt the team too much, but it does take away a player pay check where money is already tight, this isn't the NFL.

What do you think? Are the brawls a problem, and how do we fix them?