Chicago Bears player contracts: Key dates for Jay Cutler, Lamarr Houston, and Brandon Marshall

The NFL is a business before anything else, as we know, and individual teams focus primarily on profitability. Of course, fielding a great team means people will buy tickets, merchandise, etc. so it is equally important to focus on personnel as it is profitability.

With that said, there is a significant amount of money on the line in coming weeks, and the Chicago Bears will have to consider the implications:

On February 3rd, defensive tackle Lamarr Houston's $5.9 million dollar contract became fully guaranteed. As you may remember, he injured himself celebrating a sack (GIF HERE) of Jimmy Garoppolo back in October, and was lost for the rest of the 2014 season.

On March 12th, a couple other contract kickers come into play:

$10 million of Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler's $16 million 2016 base salary becomes fully guaranteed. It was guaranteed for injury at signing. Cutler's $15.5 million 2015 base salary is already fully guaranteed.

Chicago Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall's $7.5 million 2015 base salary, which was guaranteed for injury at signing, is fully guaranteed.

On the Cutler contract, his deal will unlikely be altered in any way, so unless the team makes a move before March 12th, his next two years salary is essentially full guaranteed. Of course, this season's already is.

With Marshall, he is under contract through the 2017 season.