Clutch pedal return - slow

[sstone69]

About two weeks ago, I was driving my 1969 - 396 3OT and heard and felt what I thought was a spring popping noise on the clutch. Continued to drive and have been driving it without a shifting problem except the clutch pedal is slow to return.
I know this maybe hard to diagnosis, but I am kind of lost here. I installed a clutch pedal return spring, it appears there never was one there of if there was I can't find any remains, not sure how that was possible.
When I release the pedal it looks and feels like it is binding in the pedal mechanism. If I disconnect the rod that goes from the pedal through the firewall and press the pedal, it stays down.
Should the pedal return back up without that rod connected?

Also, watching the z-bar movement, it looks like the connection to the engine block is kinda sloppy. This may not be related, but I thought I would mention it.

I can provide pictures if needed. Not sure what picture to post.