I don't know specifically who Eli Weaver is in this story as there's not enough information. He could be an ordinary person with an extraordinary experience.
Not really. Eli might not be a typical ghost story. It could have elements that make you wonder, but it might not fit the traditional ghost story mold.
Eli Manning's draft story is quite interesting. He was a highly anticipated quarterback. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the 2004 NFL Draft. However, he made it clear that he didn't want to play for the Chargers. This led to a trade that sent him to the New York Giants. This trade was a significant moment in his career and also had an impact on both teams. Manning went on to have a great career with the Giants, winning two Super Bowls.
There's not enough information given to really define who Eli is in the bearded stories. It might be a unique name given to a character in a local or niche set of tales. Maybe it's a name used by an amateur writer in their collection of bearded - themed stories.