T.K. Wetherell didn’t become president of Florida State University and a well-seasoned politician by not knowing how the game works.

In fact, Wetherell is a master negotiator in many ways, and that’s why Jimbo Fisher doesn’t need to worry about making a hefty withdrawal from the bank any time soon.

“I’m just human,’’ Fisher said in late December after flirting with the idea of returning home to West Virginia to coach the Mountaineers just two weeks after Wetherell orchestrated the deal to make him Bobby Bowden’s replacement. “If I’m wrong for [considering West Virginia], I apologize if people didn’t understand it, and for the ones who do, I appreciate it.’’

Wetherell understood, and that’s why he hasn’t, and won’t, seek the $2.5 million payment from Fisher for talking directly to West Virginia athletic director Ed Pastilong during the search for Rich Rodriguez’s replacement.

Based on the language in Fisher’s coach-in-waiting agreement with FSU, he owes FSU $2.5 million for even talking to another school about a job. Wetherell couldn’t be reached Thursday, but in an interview with The Tribune in February, he said there was never any consideration to penalize Fisher financially for talking to the Mountaineers.

Wetherell wants Fisher to be the person to replace Bowden, and forcing Fisher to fork over all that cash probably would put a damper in the relationship.

According to FSU officials, Wetherell’s commitment to Fisher hasn’t changed following the release of a transcript of Pastilong’s deposition in the lawsuit between WVU and Rodriguez. In the deposition, Pastilong said “following Rich’s official resignation, I had telephone conversations with Jimbo Fisher.’’

Of course he did. The West Virginia job was Fisher’s if he wanted it, and Pastilong was the man making the hire.

Now, if Fisher ever talks to Jeremy Foley about a job, guess here is Jimbo better head to the bank as soon as he hangs up the phone.