BOSTON (CBS) – New England Patriots linebacker Brandon Spikes is making news on Twitter again, this time for what some are calling an anti-gay message.

On Wednesday afternoon he wrote:

I’m homophobic just like I’m arachnophobic.I have nothing against homosexuals or spiders but I’d still scream if I found one in my bathtub !

I’m homophobic just like I’m arachnophobic.I have nothing against homosexuals or spiders but I’d still scream if I found one in my bathtub !—
brandon spikes (@BrandonSpikes55) October 10, 2012

Several people criticized him for the tweet, so he responded:

PEOPLE !!!! It’s a joke … seriously a JOKE !!! Chill out

PEOPLE !!!! It’s a joke … seriously a JOKE !!! Chill out—
brandon spikes (@BrandonSpikes55) October 10, 2012

There has been no comment yet from the Patriots or the National Football League.

Last month, Spikes used Twitter to blast the replacement referees after the Patriots lost to the Baltimore Ravens.

Spikes has more than 283,000 followers on Twitter.