I feel the silent bid will cause owners to actually really think about how bad they need a given player. If you need this player badly and don't want to lose them then you will tend to offer what you feel they are truly worth to you. If it's not enough to win the bid, then I guess he was worth more to the owner with the winning bid. It makes you think more about your cap number, what can I truly offer this player?
This doesn't work with one season owners as they pay over the odds, let the team go at the end of the season and the next owner has to pick up the pieces
Same goes if the bids are visible, with even a greater chance of it happening. At least the one season owner you refer to wouldn't be able to outbid everyone, every time with the silent bids.
Yes. During early free agency, a player will evaluate the offers on the table. If he decides to wait to accept (he will only wait during early/late free agency if there are more weeks to go, but he may sign at any time) then the offers he has evaluated will display. Until he has his chance to evaluate them, they are completely hidden from anyone who has not made the offer.
