I think on-field player discipline is pretty much an impossible problem.
That said, one would think that the Player's Union would be wielding the biggest stick to protect it's general population of players against it's "bad actors". Sort of like what "Law Enforcement" does: protect and serve. I would think this would be "common ground" for both the NFL* and the Union.
Maybe collectively, they could use a point system for each "egregious" hit, as a function of Hitter history, Hit Victim "worth" (expected annual take home pay), severity of the injury, and, based on all video available, a "viciousness factor". (accidental to purposeful Assault/cheap shot).
The result of this computation would result in a $ fine ranging from $20K into the SEVEN FIGURES. The ability for the Hitter to pay this would be levied in "Games Missed".
So, in the extremes, an accidental, first time, hit, even on an elite QB would be small, but the OBJ hit would be several games. Given Burfict's history (a three-time offender ? maybe more? ) he'd be gone from the game entirely.
To limit the appeals, the Union would simply publish the computation for each hit.
I know! IT'S NEVER GONNA HAPPEN. But, what we have now is absurd and unworkable, especially with the Cesspool* at 345 Park Ave the only enforcement and appeal agency.