VW Jetta clutch click

1998 Volkswagen Jetta GLX 80,000 miles.
When releasing the clutch, it clicks (It feels almost like if you would get the tread of your shoe caught) This doesn't happen all the time, only about 30% or so. Most of my miles are city miles, so I'm only noticing this at low speeds and in the low gears. There seems to be no performance problems and no extraneous noises. The other issue, is that while braking HARD to avoid hitting an animal a spring (thick and about 2" long) released from behind the brake pedal. Only issue is that now the cruise control doesn't work. Any thoughts on either problem?