Kareem McKenzie, the only Penn State alum on the Giants roster, on Wednesday called the mess that’s unfolded at his alma mater “a sad situation for all involved.’’

“There are no winners in this,’’ the Giants veteran right tackle, who played at Penn State from 1997-2000, said. “It’s a shock that something like this would happen.’’

McKenzie said he heard the news of Joe Paterno announcing he’ll retire after this season right after Wednesday’s Giants practice.

“It’s a bit of a surprise, but given the situation he wants to go ahead and remove himself from the situation and the potential discouragement that could come about.’’ Asked if he believes this will tarnish Paterno’s legacy, McKenzie said, “How long has he been coaching? Forever. I would like to think that some allegations at this point will not do so.’’

Asked to look back on Paterno’s legendary career, McKenzie, who was drafted by and played for the Jets, said, “I won’t, not right now. I have a lot of questions; a lot of questions are unanswered. This is a situation that hasn’t really fully come out, so we don’t know all specifics of it. We have to wait and see what happens.’’

Asked if he’ll reach out to Paterno, McKenzie said, “At the appropriate time I will.’’

Asked how well he knew Jerry Sandusky, the former Penn State defensive coordinator who’s charged with the multiple counts of child molestation and is the root of the entire scandal, McKenzie said, “As well as anyone would know a coach, but how well do you know anybody, truthfully?’’

“It’s sad for the kids,’’ McKenzie said of the numerous youths who were allegedly harmed by Sandusky’s actions. “This is not a situation where it was just a mistake. You’re talking about young children who were allegedly taken advantage of. Any time you involve kids who are innocent it’s a very sad and sorrowful situation.

“In today’s world, today’s society we’d like to protect our kids and give them the best chances and opportunities to be successful.’’ McKenzie said he’s spoken to a number of his former teammates since the scandal broke an the mood is universal.,

“They’re all upset by the situation, how things have come about and how it’s made the university look,’’ he said. “It’s sad and sorrowful. I’m a little bit different than everyone. I don’t go ahead and just jump to conclusions or get emotional about things. I like to wait and see what happens.

“There are a lot of different questions I have about something happened nine years ago and how this all of a sudden just comes about.’’