My head is starting to spin. Does the receiving team have to declare which player will be receiving the ball and does that player have to receive it? I don't think so. The issue here seems to be the holding call, not which player elected to receive the ball and which player didn't. That was a trick play. The Bears tried to confuse our ST but switching up which player they thought was receiving the ball. The fail came because somebody was holding. I'm just making sure I don't have my rules confused. I'm sure the receiving team has somebody appointed, they can't just say kick it and have a free for all like a jump ball. That would be madness. Now things happen on punts where the intended receiver doesn't wind up with the ball but that doesn't happen that often. This play with the Bears was intentional. With the Bears it's almost automatically assumed it's going to Hester. It has me wondering if there isn't some kind of rule with this and the number of eligible receivers they have to return the punt.
Every member of the receiving team (Bears) is eligible. The holding call came against the Bears early in the play when the Packers "gunner" (who is the guy racing down the sidelines looking for a direct shot at the receiver) was held. It was tricky because the kicking team has to take it's cues from the reactions of the receiving team. While the ball is in the air it makes sense to cue on the opposing team's players.
True that the receiving team has a designated returner, but every ST player knows that the kicking team might try something tricky like kicking to the receiving team's bigger guys. (Like what happened against New England last year)
There is no rule you're considering. It's legal for any of the receiving team to advance the ball. It was an exceptional ruse by the Bears to take what they know about the game and cue points to misdirect the Packers. It was gutsy, chancy and bold and it almost worked except for the holding call.
It was for all intents and purposes a brilliant play. We were very lucky to have survived that call. That play was made up some time ago, probably with the playoffs in mind.