The Cowboys finally broke through and won a world championship in 1971, and finding an interesting yet obscure player on that team proved to be a challenge.
Tight end Billy Traux, who started 10 games that season?
No.
Running back Joe Williams, who scored his only NFL touchdown against the Patriots in the first game ever played at Texas Stadium?
Obscure? Yes. An award winner? No.
I’m going with wide receiver Gloster Richardson.
Most Obscure Player Award Winner for 1971: Gloster Richardson.
He was a 7th round pick by Kansas City in the 1965 AFL draft and played four seasons with the Chiefs, including their championship season of 1969.
He never caught more than 23 passes in a single season, but he had a remarkable ability to score touchdowns with limited opportunities.
He scored at least one touchdown in seven of his eight NFL seasons. Throughout his career, he scored 18 touchdowns on 92 receptions in 92 games.
He lasted only one season in Dallas, but he brought his touchdown magic to the Cowboys. He caught passes in 5 games but only managed a total of 8 receptions. Nevertheless, he scored three touchdowns, including a 41-yarder against the Saints (from Roger Staubach) and a 45-yarder against the Bears (from Craig Morton).
If fantasy football existed in 1971, someone might take a flier on him, simply because of the chance that he could score. In fact, a site known as Fantasy Football Challenge has a page with Richardson’s stats.
Richardson’s final year in the league was 1974 after he played three seasons with the Browns.
I’m not sure what he’s done since then, other than serve as the guest speaker for the Oak Lawn Outlaws. It appears from the Facebook page that three people decided to attend while another was invited but had not yet confirmed.
Now that’s some obscurity. Congratulations, Mr. Richardson, on the 1971 MOP Award.
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Blogging impatiently about the Cowboys since 2006. Being a fan since 1977 hasn't required quite as much patience. 
