So I removed and cleaned the rear derailleur; didn't go all the way with taking it apart down to the springs but enough so I could clean the joints and exposed spring mechanism on the arm between the knuckles.
After that I reattached the derailleur to the bike and the cable to the derailleur, just as b4, readjusted the stops since I cleaned the screws and the threads; seems to be good now.

I did think that the shifters might be worn or broke also and took them apart but were okay; I saw online that some say there was an extra click on the shifters because of the 8 speeds coming out but I am not sure of that.