Kansas City, Mo. ? If owner Clark Hunt left it to a vote of the players, Herm Edwards would not only keep his job as head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, he’d get a hefty raise.

“It would be unanimous that we keep Herm,” said Pro Bowl guard Brian Waters. “Of course, no one is going to ask us.”

They probably won’t. But as owner Clark Hunt sets out to find a general manager to replace Carl Peterson, the Chiefs know that maybe — maybe — they could be playing for Edwards’ job in these next two weeks.

The theory going around Arrowhead Stadium is that beating the playoff-hopeful Miami Dolphins (9-5) in a frigid home finale today and winning the following week at Cincinnati would at least strengthen Edwards’ case.

And that is what the players would like to do.

“He’s a good man,” said cornerback Patrick Surtain. “It’s very rare that you find a coach who’s as genuine as Herm Edwards. When they decided to go young this year, I’m sure they told him he would get more than one year.”

Lose these last two and limp home 2-14, the worst record in any 16-game season in team history, and a new general manager who wants his own coach is much more likely to have Hunt’s ear.

Hunt spoke supportively of Edwards on Monday night when he announced the unexpected resignation of Peterson, who had been president, GM and CEO for 20 years.

“He’s as disappointed as anybody that we haven’t turned more of these close games into wins,” Hunt said. “But I continue to think he’s the right person both to have led us through this process and going forward I think he can do a good job as well.”