People often worry about injuries in football. When I mention my hare-brained ideas for changing the rules in football and how they would make the game better and reduce injuries, most people disagree.

You probably will too, but I know Tribune Creative Director Stacey Bahr, a huge football fan, agrees with me.

The biggest problem with football is unlimited substitution. Legions of players replace legions of players. This means teams need massive rosters, and on college campuses this single factor is killing other men’s sports — baseball, wrestling and gymnastics, among others — as the schools struggle to meet Title IX requirements.

The main problem with football’s large number of substitutions in the pros, college and even high school is too many fresh players end up hitting worn-out players, increasing the likelihood for injuries. Also, more substitution encourages teams to seek bigger, specialty athletes, such as a tackle who plays only on short-yardage situations.

The NFL for many years limited rosters to 45 people. Now it is up to 53, though only 47 can dress for games. The NCAA sets the number of football scholarships per team at a whopping 85. (Wrestling, for comparison’s sake, is limited to 9.9 scholarships and baseball to 11.7.)

If the rules of football limited team rosters to 24 people, which is 11 on offense, 11 on defense, a punter and a kicker, then some dynamics would change. The teams would need slimmer, longer-lasting athletes, like rugby players but heftier, rather than hulk-sized players who maim people during the limited time they actually play. In fact, like in basketball and soccer, we would get to see our favorite players play more.

In fact, many players probably would play offense and defense, which to me is exciting. Many would display skills at multiple positions, like Kordell Stewart did for the Pittsburgh Steelers early in his 12-year pro career. People called him Slash, but that sort of player is a rarity in the NFL and Division I college.

I think it’s crazy how college football teams get 85 scholarships, but the amount of time the players actually play in competition over the course of a season is minimal compared to, say, soccer players, baseball players or basketball players.

And when players become tired, they would be facing other tired players, reducing the likelihood for injuries that result in fresh vs. fatigued collisions. Yes, there would still be injuries. Even baseball has injuries. But I’m betting there would be fewer injuries and make the game more exciting.

People would still watch and the revenue would still flow, which means other men’s sports on college campuses would make a comeback.

Another change is getting rid of the pads and helmets.

Gasp!

OK, I don’t mean get rid of protection altogether. Hear me out.

Pads and helmets in football seem to be used more as a weapon than as protection. It seems no matter how the pads are worn — and, yes, I played football in high school, mainly as a bench warmer/defensive end — players will have exposed areas, and other players will use their pads and helmets to strike those areas. Isn’t that a cause of many injuries?

And aren’t the pads these days merely ways to hide the holding that happens on each and every down? What sense is there with a game that allows breaking the rules all the time?

Perhaps if the sport had helmets with soft exteriors, like a leather helmet, it would be used less as a spearhead. Perhaps if the pads were redesigned with soft exteriors, rather than rock-hard plastic, they would be used less as weapons.

What I am saying is for the game to get back to its roots but keep the modern penalties for injury-prone hits. Fewer pads. Smaller rosters. Fewer scholarships for college players.

Of course, that would never happen.

Further, how relevant is football to high school students? Most people aren’t likely to play football ever again after they graduate high school except for a few pickup games in college. It’s not a lifelong sport. A 45-year-old man is more likely to play softball, run or ski than he is to play football. If schools are supposed to prepare students for life, how does football honestly fit the bill? And don’t tell me about life lessons. Plenty of other sports teach the same teamwork and leadership skills that football teaches.

Anyway, I like football and would like to keep it in high schools, because, hey, it’s fun. I merely offer something to think about.

Tribune Managing Editor Tim Engstrom’s column appears every Tuesday.